Virginia Port posts 9.8pc volume increase to 2.1 TEU in 2012

THE Port of Virginia achieved a 9.8 per cent year-on-year increase in the volume of containers handled in 2012 at 2,105,887 TEU.

Container volume for the whole of last year was up 9.8 per cent at 1,209,822 TEU. General cargo tonnage rose 12.1 per cent year on year to 17.5 million tons. Total rail containers were up 16.8 per cent at 385,804, and barge containers were up 82.5 per cent at 8,009.

The port handled 28.5 per cent more vehicles, and total ship calls were up 7.4 per cent to 40,031.

The Port of Virginia posted an 18.9 per cent increase in containers and a 20.4 per cent increase in TEU handled in December 2012 compared to 2011 at 185,750 TEU, according to Rodney Oliver, the Virginia Port Authority's interim executive director. General cargo tonnage, including breakbulk amounted to 1.5 million tons. The total number of rail containers handled in December was 34,276, up 18.8 per cent compared with the same month in 2011.

Last December marked the 11th consecutive month of growth year-on-year in these two categories.

Mr Oliver said the solid results came despite having "two near strikes, Superstorm Sandy, diverted cargo and several other projects that required our immediate attention throughout the year".