JOC Staff | Oct 30, 2012 9:13AM EDT
All marine terminals in the Port of Virginia reopened Tuesday at 8 a.m., two hours later than usual, following the passing of Hurricane Sandy.
The Virginia Port Authority said there would be no vessel operations until the U.S. Coast Guard completes a port assessment and the sea lanes are reopened. The truck gates, transfer zones and on-dock rail will be operating.
Motor carriers will be able to interchange empty containers, but will have to do so at the main terminals because the empty yards are still in storm-preparedness mode.
The VPA said it anticipates the opening of the Norfolk and Portsmouth empty yards later Tuesday morning.
Post-storm damage assessment teams have been assembled and will be put into service to survey conditions at the port Tuesday morning. These teams will gather data, assess any damage and forward information to the captain of the port, who will then determine when to reopen the sea lanes to commercial vessel traffic.
The VPA said information on reopening the sea lanes and subsequent vessel operations would be be forthcoming Tuesday on the port’s Web site, http://www.portofvirginia.com/
Port operations officials were expecting a busier-than-normal day on Tuesday and Wednesday.
