Additional cargo ‘will not be an issue’ for Port of Virginia

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) — The tragic incident at the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore that has presumably killed six people has also stopped vessel traffic to the Port of Baltimore.

It means other East Coast ports, including the Port of Virginia, will see increased traffic as vessel traffic in and out of the Port of Baltimore has been suspended until further notice.

“Most of the goods that people in America use or buy come through the cargo vessels over our waterways and around the world,” said Aubrey Layne, chairman of the Port of Virginia Board of Commissioners. “So when one of them gets clogged up, that will be a disruption to whether it’s major retailers, or whether it’s surgical supplies that we use here at Sentara. They need to keep flowing and we learn how to deal with all this.”

To keep supplies moving throughout the U.S., ocean carrier vessels have to find another place to dock.

“What they’ll do is determine the ultimate destination of the cargo is invested and best to disembark in Virginia at the Port of Virginia or potentially the ports in New Jersey or up the East Coast,” Layne said.

Layne said the Port of Virginia is prepared for the extra load.

“We’re able to handle all that. We proved during the COVID that we’re very flexible. We’re a very automated port. So in terms of us being able to handle additional cargo that will not be an issue,” he said.

The Port of Virginia has semi-automated stacking cranes that can physically move containers and put them in place, making the process faster.

The Port of Baltimore imports a lot of cars and farm equipment. Layne said not all of that equipment can funnel through Hampton Roads.

“That’s not on a cargo vessel that comes in on something. It’s called roll-on, roll-off, where vessels come in and the cars come on and off. That will have to be worked out. The Port of Virginia can handle some of that, but not all of it,” he said.

Layne said the equipment volume can easily be spread along the East Coast.

He said consumers could experience some discomfort, but the ports are working hard to keep the supplies flowing.

“We able to work 24/7 and we’re able to keep those supplies going,” Layne said.

Layne pointed out that the Port of Baltimore still has important cargo that needs to come out.

“We’re going to have to coordinate. I know the Port of Baltimore will have to coordinate the goods on their docks. Are they going to be railed out or brought by truck? We’ll have to go to other locations to be shipped,” he said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.