The US Port of Virginia has welcomed four new ship-to-shore (STS) cranes, marking the latest step in the port’s USD 320 million capacity expansion project.
The cranes arrived at Virginia International Gateway (VIG) on January 7, 2019.
According to the port, the 170-foot-tall cranes will be the largest on the US East Coast and they will be able to service ultra large container vessels (ULCVs) calling at VIG.
Our new 170-foot-tall cranes will be the largest on the U.S. East Coast and will service the ultra large container vessels (ULCVs) calling Virginia International Gateway (VIG)! #CatalystsForCommerce #StewardsofTomorrow #VIG2019 pic.twitter.com/8WBv4R1fz3
— The Port of Virginia (@PortofVirginia) January 7, 2019
The Port of Virginia aims to become the deepest port on the US East Coast. In 2018, the port received the green light to move ahead with a project to deepen and widen the Norfolk Harbor’s commercial shipping channels.
Specifically, the port’s inner harbor’s commercial channels will be dredged to 55 feet deep and the channel in the Chesapeake Bay to 56 feet deep.
Furthermore, the channel will be widened to as much as 1,400 feet in select areas, which will allow for two-way traffic of ultra-large container vessels.
The project’s target completion date is 2025.
Video Courtesy: Port of Virginia