As forecast, The Port of Virginia in January posted an operating loss, the first one following six consecutive months of positive operating revenue reports.  “We forecast for a loss in January and February and by no means do we believe this is acceptable,” said John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. “It shows that our budget is realistic and has integrity.  “We expected headwinds in the third quarter as a result of seasonal impacts. We are making improvements in service levels and spending where necessary to maintain service integrity and safety at our facilities.”  The operating result for January is a loss of $1 million, which is an improvement over the prior-year result of a $4.7 million operating loss, and the lowest January operating loss in four years.  Factors that influenced January’s outcome: • Holiday closures and expenses  • Increased overtime to clear congestion created by the holiday schedule  • Labor taxes and assessments due at the start of the calendar year  • The cost for winter operations and planning  • Volume discounts for some carrier contracts  • High rail volume and related expenses  The fiscal-year-to-date result is an operating profit of $5.2 million, versus a prior year operating loss of $15.3 million, or an improvement of $20.5 million year-over-year.  Reinhart said February may hold a loss as well, given that it is a short month (28 days), there have been one-and-a-half lost workdays as a result of snow and the negative effect of the exceptionally cold weather on operations.  “We are keeping a close eye on all of the factors and at this juncture we expect to deliver a positive operating result for the fiscal year,” Reinhart said. “February will be a challenge, but we will get back on track and as we do, the focus on consistent delivery of reliable service to our customers, stakeholders and partners will continue.”  In January, The Port of Virginia reported that it handled 191,996 TEUs, an increase of 14.8 percent, or 24,725 TEUs, when compared with January 2014.  January 2015 vs. January 2014, in containers:  • Truck volume, up 12.2%  • Rail volume, up 22.1%  • Virginia Inland Port, up 3.2%  • Barge volume, up 16.7%  • Ship calls, up 5.8%