Crown jewels

The Port of Virginia and its surrounding maritime community are the crown jewels of economic development in Virginia. Fewer than half of U.S. states have any coastline at all, not to mention the combined industrial, commercial and military presence that makes Hampton Roads an enduring source of growth for the commonwealth and the nation.

Consistent investment and state-owned facilities ensure that every dollar spent goes toward the mission of growing Virginia’s import and export capabilities. Key investments are being allocated toward efficiency and sustainability to ensure future growth. Dominion Energy Inc.’s developing offshore wind farm is driving ancillary supply chain development at Lambert’s Point with Fairwinds Landing. Workers are now training for new offshore wind construction and maintenance jobs.

Trucking fleets at Estes Express Lines and other firms are moving toward electric vehicles. The Port of Virginia has set a goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. As early as next year, the majority of the port’s energy consumption will come from renewable sources. These transformative environmental investments are further building Virginia’s long-established leadership position in the maritime and logistics industries.

Virginia’s maritime community is bigger than Hampton Roads, though — it’s statewide. Distribution centers across Southern Virginia on U.S. 460 and up and down the Shenandoah Valley on Interstate 81 serve as waypoints for cargo that moves across the entire U.S. The Virginia Inland Port facility in Front Royal serves as a transition point for cargo containers from rail to truck transportation. A proposed second inland port in Southwest Virginia would do the same. The Port of Virginia also manages the Richmond Marine Terminal.

Our hope is that the 2023 Virginia Maritime Guide will provide you with a wealth of information on each of these investments, opportunities, challenges and more. To compile this guide, we worked closely with the Virginia Maritime Association and the Port of Virginia. We thank them for their assistance and look forward to the maritime industry’s ongoing success in the commonwealth.

Bernie Niemeier
President & Publisher
Virginia Business