By Karen E. Thuermer, AJOTThe Virginia Port Authority has an ambitious goal, and that is to make its Port of Virginia the premier and largest port on the US East Coast. That’s because these days, the port is faced with increased competition. For one, September 7th saw the opening of the 230-acre, $450 million APM Terminal in Portsmouth. Known also as Maersk Terminal, it is part of the Danish conglomerate A.P. Moller-Maersk Group. APM Terminal officials are clear, “We’re here to compete,” they say. If competition breeds success, added attention should turn the Hampton Roads region red hot with activity. VPA is already gearing up to make its seaport a key player in international commerce through its efforts to develop Craney Island, open the Heartland Corridor, add capacity and efficiency at Norfolk International Terminals (NIT) North and South, incorporate 70 more acres into Portsmouth Marine Terminal (PMT) and convert Newport News Marine Terminal (NNWT) into a specialized cargo facility. Located on one of the deepest harbors on the East Coast, the port is already experiencing significant growth in container traffic. In Calendar Year (CY) 2006, VPA handled 2,046,285 teus, up 3.2% over CY 2005 figures of 1,981,955 teus. First in, last outA huge advantage is the port’s eight services for which it is the last-out port of call and two services where it is first in. In addition, 14 services transit the Panama Canal. “Having a first in or last out call is extremely important for time sensitive cargoes as well as for cargo that moves to and from the Midwest by rail as the lines prefer to discharge that cargo at first port of call and load on last port of call to give their customers the latest possible cut-off time at the rail ramps,” states Tom Capozzi, VPA’s marketing director. APL, part of the New World Alliance (NWA) offers last out service from the Port of Virginia. In July, it commenced all-water Suez Express (SZX) service that connects the US East Coast with Southeast Asia and the Indian Subcontinent via the Suez Canal. “With Virginia being the a last out call, this service offers the fastest transit time to the Arabian Gulf when compared with other US East Coast ports,” says Capozzi. Five APL vessels are deployed on the service and three from NWA partners Hyundai Merchant Marine and Mitsui OSK. All ships offer between 4,000 and 4,5000 teus capacity. APL leaders say the service was developed to provide a complementary alternative to the Panama Canal, and to help customers diversify their supply chains in Asia and their domestic gateways. VPA’s operating company, Virginia International Terminals Inc. (VIT), has a 10-year, $175 million contract with the New World Alliance, effective last December. The contract is the latest in a growing list of long-term agreements VIT has signed with its customers. Other 10-year agreements are with the Grand Alliance, CKY, China Shipping, Turkon, MSC, ACL, CMA-CGM and Emirates. In addition, VIT signed a five-year contract in January with CSAV. The contract includes an option for five more years and guarantees that CSAV will move a minimum of 75,000 teus through the seaport. Port officials contend that the contract’s value could exceed $50 million, depending on CSAV’s container volume that could top 125,000 teus. Port officials believe these commitments solidify the Port of Virginia as a port of choice for some of the world’s biggest shipping alliances and steamship lines. Cargo enhancementsHelping to increase throughput and efficiency at the port are developments at NIT, the largest of VPA’s three marine terminals. NIT South’s seven-year, $279 million renovation is already ahead of schedule. “We have the improvements along the waterfront completed and are now focusing on reconfiguring the last few sections of the container yard,” reports Joe Harris, VPA spokesman. The pile driving for the NIT north berth expansion is nearly complete and concrete work will soon begin. Three cranes have been o