The Port of Virginia processed 215,254 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in April, a 2.4 percent increase when compared with the prior year. The performance was supported, in part, by growth in volume at both Virginia Inland Port (VIP) and Richmond Marine Terminal (RMT). "Our volumes were modest and we see some softness in the market in the coming months," said John F. Reinhart, CEO  and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. "Still, the value of VIP and RMT is clear and as we begin our effort  to add capacity. The importance of those facilities is going to continue to elevate. Our port-wide reinvestment strategy is well underway. In Richmond, we unveiled a new mobile harbor crane in February. Last week, we applied for a federal grant that would enhance our cargo handling capabilities at VIP. "The Port of Virginia is entering an important growth phase - a million containers of capacity will be added -- and as work begins, we will be utilizing all of our facilities to serve our customers and minimize the challenges that construction can present. Our goal is to maintain our service levels throughout the expansion." The first large-scale capacity project will be to rebuild the upland operation at the South Berth of Norfolk International Terminals (NIT). Reinhart said the $350 million project will increase annual throughput capacity at NIT by 46 percent, or 400,000 containers. In April, VIP's volume was up 10 percent; RMT, up 12 percent; truck volume, up I percent; ship calls, up 2 percent; and vehicle units, up 8 percent when compared with the same month last year. On a calendar-year basis, TEUs are up 4 percent; rail, 12 percent; and truck volume was slightly down at 0.4 percent.   "We continue to grow in what is a very competitive environment," Reinhart said. "We are meeting the needs and challenges of our customers and our market and are doing so while maintaining our service levels, controlling cost and continuing to refine the operation." On a fiscal-year basis (july I - June 30) the port's TEU volumes are up 3.5 percent; rail containers, up 9.5 percent; ship calls, up 2 percent; and vehicle units processed at Newport News Marine Terminal (NNMT), up 37.5 percent.