The Port of Virginia in 2014 set its new annual benchmark for container volume having handled more than 2.3 million TEUs, a 7.6 percent increase over last year’s total.  “In 2014, we moved 169,000 more TEUs than we did in 2013, which until now was our most productive year on record,” said John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. “The growth is significant, but it has created significant challenges as well, especially in service levels for our motor carriers.  “The focus is to continue to grow, within reason and within our capabilities, strive for consistency at our gates and operations, maintain profitability and do these things with a sense urgency and responsibility. The growth is a tribute to our team and our port partners, but our enthusiasm is tempered, as we are cognizant of the fact that we have much work to do on building infrastructure and developing processes to maintain the business and grow the port.” The port will release its financial results for December at the Jan. 27 meeting of the Virginia Port Authority Board of Commissioners, Reinhart said.  The year was completed by strong volumes in December, when the port handled 203,276 TEUs, a jump of 12.3 percent when compared with the same month last year. December was the eighth month of 2014 when port TEU volumes exceeded 200,000 units.  December is the half-way mark in fiscal 2015.  “Our volume is tracking for a record fiscal year as well: at the half-way point we’re up eight percent,” Reinhart said. “We are working to expedite service improvements and maintain this positive growth across The Port of Virginia.”  In 2014, the port exceeded the 200,000-TEU mark in April, May, July, August, September, October, November and December.  Additional highlights of calendar 2014 vs calendar 2013:  • Virginia Inland Port set a new annual throughput record having handled 36,841 containers: up 14.5%.  • The Richmond barge (64 Express) moved 12,190 containers: up 53.1%.  • Total rail containers were 448,096, the highest in the port’s history: up 4%.  • All segments of the port’s business posted increases in 2014 (in containers):  o Truck: 868,108; up 9.1%  o Rail: 448,096; up 4%  o Barge: 56,934; up 18.4%  • The breakdown of how the cargo was moved is: 33% by rail, 63% by truck and 4% by barge.