The Port of Virginia has greatly increased its ability to accommodate the largest container ships in the world. This development positions the port as a major player in East Coast maritime operations, especially as its extensive harbor deepening project nears completion.

In late January, the port introduced four new, all-electric, Suez-class ship-to-shore container cranes at Norfolk International Terminals. With this addition, the port can now handle four ultra-large container vessels at the same time. Overall, the port operates 29 deep-water ship-to-shore cranes, capable of managing the largest container ships on the Atlantic trade routes.

Sarah J. McCoy, the interim CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority, stated, “This type of investment in infrastructure assures ocean carriers and cargo owners that they can increase their operations here. Our berth capacity is expanding, and we now have four berths for ultra-large container vessels. We are also quickly moving toward the capacity to accommodate five ultra-large vessels at once.”

This increased capacity comes as the port approaches the end of its planned channel deepening to 55 feet, making Virginia home to the deepest commercial port on the U.S. East Coast, surpassing Charleston’s 52-foot depth. The dredging work is expected to finish by the end of February, with the fifth ultra-large container vessel berth anticipated to be operational by 2027.

McCoy added, “Our channels are wide enough for two-way traffic of ultra-large container vessels, and we are in the final phase of deepening. Once the 55-foot channel opens later this month, multiple ultra-large container ships, fully loaded, can arrive here without issues related to water depth, overhead obstructions, berth capacity, or congested ship channels. The Port of Virginia is America’s most modern gateway, and it's ready for the future.”