Why is the Virginia Maritime Association meeting in Warren County?

On Wednesday morning (April 26) the Warren County Government Center was the site of the 2017 annual report of the Virginia Maritime Association on the “State of the Ports”.  Why was Warren County hosting a report on Virginia’s ports, you may ask.

Right here in River City – straight from Hampton Roads and the Atlantic Ocean, the Virginia Maritime Association’s annual report. Photos/Roger Bianchini

Because as a power point presentation made VERY clear, Warren County’s role as an inland transportation hub between the Hampton Roads area and ALL points inland to the northeast and central United States is crucial to the growth and economic strength of Virginia’s port system.

It was no accident that Virginia’s Inland Port was located on Warren County’s northside near both an Interstate Highway intersection (I-66 and I-81) and railway hub.

Big ships, deep channels – But it’s not just ships, rail and trucking move cargo inland – Photos/Va. Maritime Assn.

“How important is the Inland Port? – It gets cargo off the waterside quickly.  Front Royal (oops, well the Inland Port does use town water and sewer) is a crucial part of our growth and growing future,” Devin Andrews said as he moderated the power point presentation on the State of Virginia’s Ports.  “A port isn’t just on the water … we are growing a supply chain across the commonwealth … and we are building for the long term.”

That building has been a billion-dollar investment, including $670 million in capital infrastructure construction, which Andrews said “shows America and across the globe that Virginia is serious” about its role in the import and export business.

A chart illustrated that seriousness in that the commonwealth is on track to surpass past years of economic growth in its shipping-based import and export role on America’s east coast.  After one year of slightly decreased revenue ($454.8 million in 2016 from $458 million in 2015) the commonwealth is currently on track ($363 million year-to-date) to end the year at the $485 million in revenue mark for 2017.

Stewardship of involved communities is one agenda of the Virginia Maritime Association – wonder if they heard about the report on the Shenandoah River released almost simultaneously with the State of the Ports report? Photo/Roger Bianchini

In fact, Andrews pointed out that shortly one of the largest cargo ships to ever port on the east coast will arrive at Hampton.

“We are building to be sustainable for years to come … we want to be a global gateway … that will be our new normal,” he told a packed WCGC meeting room.

The power point illustrated a plan to deepen the main channel at Hampton Roads from 50 to 55 feet, making it accessible to some of the largest cargo vessels now sailing the seven seas, drawing vessels away from more established east coast ports like New York and Baltimore.

Photo/Va. Maritime Assn.

The Maritime Association report states that, “With the deepest water on the U.S. East Coast, Hampton Roads encompasses 25 square miles of easily accessible waterways and is located just 18 miles from the open sea, offering ships carrying the heaviest cargoes, 50 foot-deep, obstruction-free channels, which are poised to begin dredging to 55 feet.”

It was a packed house at the fully-opened WCGC meeting room – hmm, and food.

A summary of the economic impact of Virginia’s maritime industry included:

• 79-million tons of cargo moved;
• 530,800 jobs;
• $27.4 billion in wages;
• $88.4 billion in spending;
• $2.7 billion in state/local taxes;
• 1% of Virginia’s gross state products.

And sports fans, a lot of that international commerce originating at Hampton Roads that is generating that economic impact will travel through Front Royal’s, err I mean northside Warren County’s Inland Port on the way to destinations throughout the eastern half of the United States.

Not a pirate ship, but the America Transportation Services shuttle bus back to Hampton Roads for some.