advertisement

---

Last year, the Port of Virginia handled 2,105,887 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs), up 9.8 percent compared with 2011 volume.

Only 22,479 TEUS separated 2012 from 2007, when the Norfolk facility set a volume record, port officials said in a prepared statement. The port posted gains in seven cargo categories, including containers, up 9.8 percent to 1,209,822; total rail containers, up 16.8 percent to 385,804; and general cargo tonnage, up 12.1 percent to 17,513,093.

"I'm extremely proud of what we accomplished in 2012. We had two near strikes, Super Storm Sandy, diverted cargo and several other projects that required our immediate attention throughout the year," said Rodney Oliver, interim executive director of the Virginia Port Authority.

The port capped off its strong 2012 performance with a busy December, when total TEUs climbed 20.4 percent to 185,750. Containers totaled 106,005 and rail containers totaled 34,276.

"[December] made the sixth month in 2012 in which the port recorded a double-digit monthly increase year over year, and the eleventh consecutive month of positive year-over-year growth in containers and rail containers," said Oliver.

Meanwhile, the Ports of Indiana named Rick Heimann director of the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor, effective Jan. 16.

He most recently served as sourcing manager for ArcelorMittal USA, where he specialized in rail and water transportation. Heimann previously was transportation manager for AK Steel and sales manager for The Ohio River Co. barge line.