Virginia-Asia Markets First-In Service

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

 

Contact: Joe Harris, Media Relations Manager
Tel: (757) 683-2137 / (800) 446-8098
Cell: (757) 617-0006
Fax: (757) 683-2897
jharris@portofvirginia.com

Greg Edwards, Director of External Affairs
Tel: (757) 683-2110 / (800) 446-8098
Cell: (757) 617-0852
gedwards@portofvirginia.com

VPA Welcomes a First:
First-In Service Linking Virginia and
Asia Markets Begins Tuesday, April 28


NORFOLK – When the container ship Venice Bridge arrives tomorrow at the south berth of Norfolk International Terminals it marks the beginning of a new service that provides a direct weekly trade link between Virginia and critical manufacturing markets in Asia.

Virginia is the first U.S. East Coast stop for this service, which is provided by the CKYH steamship alliance. The addition of this “first-in” service, the first of its kind for the terminals owned and operated by the Virginia Port Authority, was announced at the VPA board of commissioners meeting in March.

“This is a perfect fit for cargo coming to the US East Coast from Asia that needs to be on the store shelves as soon as possible,” said Thomas Capozzi, senior managing director of the Global sales for Virginia International Terminals Inc. “This is a real economical advantage for our customers.”

CKYH is an alliance of four steamship lines that all contribute cargo and vessels: the alliance’s members are China Ocean Shipping Co. (China), “K” Line (Japan), Yang Ming (Taiwan) and Hanjin (South Korea).

This service to Virginia will use eight vessels each with a capacity of 3,850 TEUs. The port rotation schedule is Shanghai, Chiwan, Yantian, Hong Kong, Virginia and New York. Once the vessel leaves its last port call in Asia its transit time to Virginia is 22 days: cargo bound for Columbus, Ohio, will be there in 24 days and Louisville, KY, and Cincinnati in 25 days.

Port customers with import cargo traveling this route will also benefit from improvements to the on-dock rail operation at NIT. The reconfigured Central Rail Yard greatly improves the time rail cargo is expedited from the vessel to rail.

 



 

The Virginia Port Authority (VPA) is an agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia, reporting to the state Secretary of Transportation. The VPA owns and operates four general cargo facilities on behalf of the state: Norfolk International Terminals, Portsmouth Marine Terminal, Newport News Marine Terminal and the Virginia Inland Port in Warren County. The terminals are operated by Virginia International Terminals, Inc. (VIT) the non-stock, non-profit operating company. The VPA, through terminal earnings generated by VIT, is operationally self-sufficient. The VPA and correlating maritime industry is responsible for 343,000 jobs, $41 billion in total revenues throughout the Commonwealth.