The existing contract between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) is set to expire at midnight on Monday, September 30.

The port will operate normally this coming week and will provide any important updates on this webpage.

Cessation of Operations Plan

If there is a work stoppage on October 1, The Port of Virginia will begin halting its cargo operations on September 30.

Those steps will include an orderly cessation of cargo operations at Norfolk International Terminals (NIT), Virginia International Gateway (VIG), Newport News Marine Terminal (NNMT), Pinners Point Container Yard (PPCY), Portsmouth Chassis Yard (PCY), Reefer Service Area (RSA), and the Damage Annex.

5 AM: Trucker Reservation System (TRS) reservations are strongly encouraged for Monday, September 30.

8 AM: The last inbound train delivery will be accepted.

12 PM / Noon: The work begins to secure ship-to-shore cranes and clear berths of cargo and equipment. All inbound truck gates will close; all motor carriers inside the terminals will be serviced. Inbound gates to the PPCY, RSA, and Damage Annex will close; PCY will remain open until 3 PM.

1 PM: Marine operations will cease, and all vessels are required to sail. PPCY, RSA, and Damage Annex will close, and all motor carriers must be off of those premises. The last outbound train leaves.

3 PM: PCY closes, and all motor carriers must be off of the premises.

6 PM: Container operations at VIG, NIT, and the support operations at the PPCY, PCY, RSA, and Damage Annex will halt until further notice.

Reefer Units

All reefer units will remain connected to power throughout any work stoppage but will not be monitored.

Diversions / Extra Loaders / Sweepers / Port Rotation Changes

VIT requests advance notice of any added volume, diverted cargo for VIG or NIT.

Bill of Lading Changes

Ocean carrier will be responsible for bill of lading changes. We request any additional information such as reefer count and mode of transportation (rail or truck) for these added moves.

Chassis

All HRCPII chassis on the street at the start of a work stoppage will not incur charges for those days the port is closed due to the work stoppage; charges will resume when the stoppage is over. All chassis, including bare, will continue to be associated to the motor carrier that last out-gated the chassis. Motor carriers associated with an off-terminal HRCP II chassis will be responsible for its welfare, as outlined in the chassis agreement HRCP II Chassis Interchange Agreement.

Loaded Container Storage

VIT will not be charging the ocean carriers Loaded Container Storage for containers left on terminal during the work stoppage. Shippers are encouraged to contact their ocean carrier directly concerning their free-time policy on demurrage during this same period.

The Virginia Port Authority’s administrative offices and its privately held terminal operating company, VIT, will be open according to their regular schedules.

Richmond Marine Terminal (RMT) and Virginia Inland Port (VIP) will operate normally, but cargo operations will be impacted. Portsmouth Marine Terminal (PMT) will operate as normal.

Our hope is that both parties return to negotiations and reach a mutually beneficial agreement that allows for the resumption of operations. Once an agreement has been reached, The Port of Virginia will implement its resumption of operations plan and methodically and safely bring terminals back online.

In the meantime, we will remain in close communication with customers, stakeholders, and partners throughout this process and will update this page daily.

MEDIA INQUIRIES

For media inquiries, please contact Joe Harris, Spokesman, at jharris@portofvirginia.com.