Port of Virginia nears completion of dredging project; preps to inaugurate new ULCV berth at NIT

The Port of Virginia® is nearing the completion of its $1.4 billion Gateway Investment Program with a critical piece of the strategic capital investment program being delivered in early 2026.

In February, the port is scheduled to take delivery of the deepest shipping channels on the US East Coast, as the deepening and widening effort of Virginia’s channels comes to its close. The $450 million project will result in channels that are 55 feet deep and wide enough to safely handle two-way traffic of the biggest ships in the Atlantic trade, without tidal restrictions or overhead obstructions; the widening effort was completed in February of 2024.

“This is an important chapter in the story of The Port of Virginia and the ongoing development of America’s Most Modern Gateway®,” said Sarah J. McCoy, interim CEO and executive director of The Virginia Port Authority. “In order to be a twenty-first century port, you must have twenty-first century infrastructure. Channel depth has the same level of importance to Virginia as any of our landside assets and investments. To remain competitive, the big ships require deep water and modern terminals. The Port of Virginia is the logical choice.”

In addition to nearing the end of the dredging effort the port is celebrating the inauguration of a fourth berth for ultra-large container vessels (ULCVs). At the South Berth of Norfolk International Terminals (NIT), the port has deepened its berths and is putting four new Suez-class cranes into service this month. The new cranes give the port two ULCV berths at both NIT South and Virginia International Gateway.

A fifth ULCV berth is being developed at NIT’s North Berth and is scheduled to be in operation in 2027, when the $650 million reconfiguration and optimization of that area of the terminal is completed.

Chief Sales Officer Thomas D. Capozzi, said the port’s ongoing modernization ensures that companies using The Port of Virginia can grow their volumes here without concern for capacity. He pointed to the port having earned the International Port of the Year award from Lowe’s in October 2025 – the fourth consecutive year of having received the award for excellent service.

“Companies are taking note of what we are doing here, of how we treat their cargo today and how we are preparing for the future,” Capozzi said. “When the Gateway Investment Program is complete, collectively, we’ll have the annual throughput capacity for nearly six million TEUs and the capability to process two million annual rail lifts.

“Those capabilities, combined with an overall modern approach to terminal operations and the deepest channels on the US East Coast, are clear indicators that we are ready to grow in parallel with our biggest users, whatever their needs may be.”