Richmond-Hampton Roads eco-friendly barges now run thrice weekly

THE Hampton Roads-Richmond container barge service, promoted as an anti-truck environmental measure, is increasing frequencies from twice to three times a week, the Virginia Port Authority has announced.

The 64 Express container-on-barge shuttle can handle 80 to 100 boxes per barge depending on their size, reports American Shipper.

The barge service aimed to reduce truck traffic on Interstate 64, trim carbon emissions and better use the Port of Richmond, which lost its two last ocean carriers as a result of the recession, said the report.

"We've taken nearly 12,500 trucks off the road and the emissions that go with that figure as well as a reduction in the wear and tear on the roads," said the port authority's environmental director Heather Wood.

Said acting port authority CEO Rodney Oliver: "Adding a third sailing along with an overall increase in customers that are considering the barge as a means of transporting cargo sets it up for success going forward. This started small: once a week. The next step is to get it to five days a week."

Through August, 6,227 containers moved on the twice-weekly barge service, compared with last year's total of 4,386 containers. Barge traffic was off in 2011 because a major user cut use of the service.