More Coal Ships Coming to Our Area

If you don’t like seeing coal ships anchored off the Cape Charles coast, you need to get over it–more are on the way.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Two weeks following the closure of the Port of Baltimore due to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, it’s clear Hampton Roads is playing a major role in keeping not only the supply chain moving, but also in the cleanup efforts themselves.

While the temporary relocation of Maryland-based Carnival and Royal Caribbean cruise ship operations to Norfolk may serve as the most high-profile display of the region’s ability to quickly come to the aid of its fellow maritime community, it’s far from the only example.

In fact, when it comes to cargo, two weeks after the bridge’s tumble, the true effects are beginning to be seen on the waterfront.

“We are seeing an increase in cargo for sure,” Joe Harris, a spokesperson for the Port of Virginia said Wednesday.

In the hours just after the collapse, Gov. Glenn Youngkin was quick to announce that the port would be assisting by offloading cargo initially bound for Baltimore. However, at the time, nobody was exactly sure what the amount of additional volume would look like.

The Port of Virginia primarily deals in containers, and it far surpasses the annual processing completed in Baltimore when it comes to TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit), Harris said.

Still, there has been an increase in Maryland truckers rolling up to the gates to retrieve the Baltimore-destined containers that have been handled. Hours for trucks at the terminals have been extended to accommodate the extra traffic.

“We knew we would have to make adjustments and we will,” Harris said.

Kim Brown, a longshoreman with the International Longshoremen’s Association who also serves on the Norfolk Economic Development Authority, told her fellow directors Wednesday that the uptick in activity since the bridge collapse really became noticeable this week.

“Yesterday, the drive into the port was a mess because of the increase in truckers,” Brown said. “We are getting seven shipping lines coming to us with Baltimore’s containers on it.” 

But it’s not just containers.

Over at Newport News Marine Terminal, dozens of large farm and construction equipment now sit in the yard waiting to be picked up by flatbed trucks.

Baltimore handles more of what’s known as “roll-on/roll-o​ff” farm and construction machinery than any other U.S. port, according to the Maryland Port Administration.

Harris said while the Port of Virginia doesn’t have the infrastructure Baltimore does for roll-on/roll-off, NNMT is designed for bulk cargo.