Port of Virginia receives grants for Richmond Marine Terminal

The Port of Virginia has received a $456,000 federal grant for improvements at its Richmond Marine Terminal (RMT).

The money — along with $114,000 in matching funds from the port — will be used to purchase a top loader, which is a piece of cargo equipment that moves containers on-and-off of the chassis used by motor carriers to carry the containers.

The grant is part of the government’s Marine Highway Program, which is designed to encourage the development of inland waterways to relieve landside congestion.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced a total of $4.6 grants for six projects.

“Every piece of equipment we add to RMT helps to build efficiency in the cargo handling operation and speeds the flow of commerce,” John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority, said in a statement. “This top-loader will help us load trucks faster, meaning trucks get on the road quicker resulting in the rapid delivery of goods.”

The Richmond Express is a thrice-weekly barge service that links the port’s primary container terminals in the Norfolk Harbor with RMT. In fiscal year 2018, which ended June 30, 27,626 containers were moved using the Richmond Express, an increase of nearly 23 percent when compared with fiscal year 2017.