Port of Virginia raises the bar

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Port of Virginia have signed the agreement committing the federal government to begin its financial investment in the construction effort to widen and deepen the commercial shipping channels and Norfolk Harbor.

With a group of federal and state officials in attendance, Virginia Port Authority (VPA) CEO, Stephen A. Edwards, and Col. Brian P. Hallberg, the USACE’s Norfolk District commander, inked the Project Partnership Agreement last month.

The document formally commits the parties to collaborate in delivering of the Norfolk Harbor widening and deepening project.

Furthermore, it allows USACE to use federal funding to award its first construction contract on the project.

The commercial shipping channels from the Atlantic Ocean and into the harbor are being deepened to least 55-feet and made wide enough to safely accommodate two-way traffic of ultra-large container ships.

According to the Port, these features put the facility ahead of its East Coast peers and in a unique position to attract more cargo and increase efficiency at its terminals.

Commenting the latest milestone, VPA CEO Edwards said that the biggest ships afloat will be able safely sail to-and-from the port fully-laden with containers. Also, the wider channels and two-way ship traffic means greater use of the port’s vessel berths.

“The benefits of this project are unparalleled anywhere on the US East Coast,” Edwards said.

The Port of Virginia is also moving ahead strongly with its goal of becoming completely carbon-neutral by 2040.

“Our commitment to becoming a completely carbon-neutral operation by 2040 aligns us with some of the world’s leading ocean carriers, retailers, manufacturers, suppliers and multinational corporations,” added Edwards.

“Consumers worldwide are demanding clean – green – supply chains and our work will put us at the forefront of this change.”

As the port’s volumes increase – together with deepening and widening of the shipping channels and transition from fossil fuels to cleaner technologies – the sources of available clean electricity will expand, meaning that more clean energy will be fed into the grid and allocated to the port.

“We are ahead of schedule on a couple of fronts. Almost five years ago, we began to electrify our operation, audit carbon emissions, replace aging equipment with greener machines and make greater use of technology,” Edwards said.

“This is a start that we’re proud of, but we know we can do better and this announcement is an important step forward.”

The Port’s 2040 carbon neutral goal was debuted in April by Edwards at the 2022 State of the Port event.

Their strategy focuses on protecting local communities and the environment through fundamental changes in how the port operates. The approach is governed by a progressive environmental program that will achieve net-zero carbon emissions by the year 2040.

The goal includes a 65 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and operating with 100 percent renewable energy by 2032.

While the deepening and widening project will help drive the port’s cargo volumes, this capital development plan contains an important and useful byproduct – dredge material that will benefit regional beaches.

“Over the course of the project, we’ll dredge a large volume of sands – millions of cubic yards,” said Keith Lockwood, Norfolk District Water Resources Division chief.

“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Virginia Port Authority are collaborating with the cities of Norfolk and Virginia Beach to maximize the beneficial use of this dredged sand by placing it along beaches for additional coastal protection.”

Through all these efforts, the Port of Virginia plans to reduce its contribution to global climate change and protect marine resources. Reaching and maintaining carbon neutrality is a perpetual effort requiring teamwork, innovation and an open-minded approach.

“Our commitment aligns us with some of the world’s leading retailers, manufacturers, suppliers and multinational corporations. It is also a strategic business decision: consumers worldwide are demanding clean – green – supply chains and our work will put us at the forefront of this change,” concluded Edwards.