Virginia to receive diverted cargo

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - Hurricane Sandy is still having an impact on Hampton Roads. Cargo from the Port of New York/New Jersey is being diverted to The Port of Virginia because of the devastating storm damage in the Northeast.

The vessels began arriving in Norfolk Thursday. A Container Ship, APL Indonesia, off-loaded more than 1,000 containers at Norfolk International Terminals (NIT) and the car carrier Prestige discharged 1,300 vehicles at Newport News Marine Terminal.

This was just the beginning. A significant amount of cargo is expected to be diverted to Virginia in the short term, according to the Virginia Port Authority ( VPA).

“Our primary concern is the people in the Northeast – we have people in this office who are from that area and still have family there. Also, they’re industry people and we have friends at the Port of New York/New Jersey that we’re worried about," said Rodney W. Oliver, interim executive director of the VPA.

“Much of the cargo we’ll be handling would stay in the New York metro area and serve that population, so the effort will be to get it off the ship and up to the Northeast as efficiently and as quick as possible, because they’re going to need it.”

Virginia International Terminals Inc. ( VIT), the VPA's terminal operating company, has implemented weekend gate hours to help manage the increased cargo. Truck gates at APM Terminals in Portsmouth, Norfolk International Terminals and both empty container yards will be open on Saturday, Nov. 3, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.