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Largest privately owned container
terminal in USA opens
Maersk subsidiary officially opens $450 million terminal in Virginia
APM Terminals Virginia officially opened its new $450 million,
291-acre container terminal (on 576 acres of land) today to serve
customers in the Hampton Roads region. This world-class maritime
center, the third-largest container terminal in the United States, is
capable of handling 1 million twenty- foot-equivalent units (TEU)
annually and has the potential to expand to handle a capacity of more
than 2 million TEU. The terminal will serve as an economic engine for
new business in the region.
“This project demonstrates what can be achieved when private and
public interests work together to achieve a new standard of
excellence,” said Eric Sisco, President, APM Terminals North America.
“The result is a win for the city, state, customers, and environment,
as well as the Hampton Roads region.”
New technology at the terminal is designed to keep workers and drivers
safe, while expediting cargo movement through use of the newest, most
advanced handling equipment. The highly efficient, “green design” of
the facility incorporates energy-saving and emissions-conscious
technology into the equipment and the terminal.
Safety technology
The yard area features weight-sensitive booths and remotely controlled
cranes – the first of their kind in the United States. To ensure
safety, drivers must exit their cabs and stand inside a booth before
yard cranes can load their chassis. Remote control of cranes from an
operations control center in the facility’s main building minimizes
exposure to potential safety hazards.
Security
As part of an overall focus on security, a new identity-credentialing
system limits access to high-risk or sensitive areas, allowing entry
only to certified workers.
Efficient cargo movement
Twelve inbound and 12 outbound high-efficiency gates minimize idling
time, which reduces truck emissions and speeds cargo movement. Optical
scanners and radio frequency identification (RFID) readers prompt more
efficient truck entry and exit, directing trucks to the proper loading
area, or if needed, a separate area dedicated to resolving problems.
In addition, overhead electronic screens and a new on-line reservation
system will optimize the flow of both trucks (turn time) and cargo
movement on the terminal.
Emissions reduction and spill prevention
The terminal’s all-electric crane inventory includes six super
post-Panamax ship-to-shore cranes, 30 semi-automated rail-mounted
gantry yard cranes (RMGs), and two rubber tire gantry cranes (RTGs)
with electric spreader bars. Twenty shuttle trucks transport cargo
from the dock to the stack area. Fewer diesel engines and use of
on-road engines in 62 off-road terminal vehicles contribute to
significantly reduced levels of particulate matter and nitrous oxide
emissions. In addition, electric spreader bars eliminate hydraulic
spills.
On-dock rail
On-dock rail will eliminate significant amounts of local truck traffic
on local highways and in adjacent neighborhoods. Two RTGs will move
containers from the rail cars on six tracks of on-dock rail.
Environmental leadership
On the terminal, APM Terminals Virginia set aside over 150 acres of
undeveloped forest and wetlands and, in the process actually recreated
27 acres of wetlands by planting nearly 200,000 wetland type plants.
The plants included cordgrass, saltgrass, needle rush, marsh elder and
wax myrtle and were planted in four wetland areas around the site.
Egrets and blue heron can be seen in these areas today. In the region,
APMT donated $5.3 million dollars to the Elizabeth River Trust to
remediate portions of the Elizabeth River and to reseed oyster beds.
The terminal also purchased 13.76-acres of wetlands credits from the
Great Dismal Swamp Restoration Bank, LLC.
Breakbulk
In addition to container shipping, this facility will handle breakbulk
cargo, with a specific set aside area dedicated for these operations.
“The highest standards in safety, security, technology and labor are
now available in this facility,” said Sisco. “We are proud of the
innovation and the environmental stewardship in this investment for
the future of APM Terminals and the Hampton Roads region.”
About APM Terminals
APM Terminals, one of the world’s largest operators of container
terminals, with more than 45 container terminals spanning 28 countries
and five continents, is based in the Hague, Netherlands. APM Terminals
North America is the U.S. component of APM Terminals and is part of
the Maersk Inc. group of companies. Operating a total of 13 terminals
on both coasts, APM Terminals is the largest terminal operating
company in North America and has over 30 years’ experience providing
shipping lines with the efficient operation and management of
container terminals. These activities include dedicated facility
management, stevedoring, and terminal design and development.
See:
http://www.apmterminals.com/aboutus.aspx?id=5123
http://www.apmterminals.com/northamerica/virginia/
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