b'30American Journal ofTransportation ajot.comFreezPak investing $77.5 million in cold storage facilityIn March,Virginia Gover- FreezPak Logistics. His instru-nor Glenn Youngkin announcedmentalroleinourdecisionto that FreezPak Logistics, LLC, achoose the state of Virginia and provider of full-service cold andThePortofVirginiahasbeen drystorageservices,plannedinvaluable. We continue to expand to invest $77.5 million to con- our national footprint as a 100% structa245,000-square-footfamily-owned business.cold storage facility in the CityI am pleased to announce ofSuffolktoservetheMid- thatFreezPakhaschosento Atlantic region via The Port oflocate and invest in the City of Virginia (POV). Virginia com- Suffolk,saidSuffolkMayor petedwithGeorgiaandNorthMichaelDuman.Thiscold Carolina for this project, whichstoragefacilitywillbelocated will create 80 new jobs. intheNorthgateCommerce FreezPaksdecisiontoPark. The facility will align with locateintheCityofSuffolkour significant food and bever-VIRGINIA PORTS 2024 demonstratesthatVirginiaisaage manufacturing sector. It is a supply chain destination, and itswelcome addition and will con-new facility will allow it to servetribute to our goal of economic An Evergreen container vessel is docked at Virginia International Gateway. theentireMid-Atlanticregion,diversificationandcontinuing saidGovernorGlennYoungkin.economic prosperity in our city.All of FreezPaks products willThe Hampton Roads Alli-Port of Virginia digs deep with plango through The Port of Virginia,ance was thrilled to work along-alogisticaladvantagethatwillside our partners at the City of increase efficiency and increase itsSuffolkandtheVirginiaEco-to accommodate larger vessels direct access to markets. This is anomicDevelopmentPartner-win for FreezPak, The Port of Vir- shiptosecurethisprojectfor Channel widening and deepening intended to increase safe accessginia, and the Commonwealth. HamptonRoads,saidDoug and port efficiency. FreezPaksdecisiontoSmith,PresidentandCEOof locate in the Commonwealth istheHamptonRoadsAlliance. a recognition of Virginias stra- FreezPakLogisticswillbea By Brenda Silva, AJOT tegic location, world-class infra- fantasticadditiontobothour structure,andtheimmediatefoodandbeverageprocessing, AtThePortofVirginia,sels (ULCVs), as well as createticOceanChannelPhaseII,access The Port of Virginia pro- and distribution clusters, and we progress continues on a $1.4 bil- shorterportstaysatberths.whichhasincludedthecom- vides the company to reach itslookforwardtoworkingwith lioninfrastructurecontractaEarlierthisyear,constructionbined efforts of the U.S. Armycore customers, said Secretarythem as they continue to grow.plan that is designed to accom- began on the final phase of theCorpsofEngineers(USACE)of Commerce and Trade CarenFreezPakisanational modate ultra-large container ves- infrastructureplan,theAtlan- NorfolkDistrict,theVirginiaMerrick.Welookforwardtoplayer with a long track record Port Authority, and the City ofFreezPaks growth and successofsuccessinthecoldstorage Virginia Beach. When the newin the City of Suffolk. arenaandhavingthemhere Expanded rail yard enhanceschannel opens in 2025, it will beWe sincerely appreciate Gov- will be a welcome asset to the the deepest commercial channelernorYoungkinandhisofficesportcommunity,saidStephen efficiency, decreases delays on the U.S. East Coast, measur- supportinsecuringincentives,A.Edwards,CEOandexecu-ing at a depth of 55-feet. a crucial factor in launching ourtivedirectoroftheVirginia According to port statistics,project successfully, said Dave(INVESTINGcontinued on By Brenda Silva, AJOT The Port of Virginia processedSaoud, co-founder and CEO ofpage 34)3.5 million TEUs in fiscal year TheexpandedcentralrailofRailandPublic Transporta- 2024(FY2024),atwoper-yard at The Port of Virginia hastion to build two new rail trackcent increase over the close of created an increase in efficiencybundles, and purchase three all- FY2023. As consumer demands with the port now able to processelectriccantileverrail-mountedand cargo volumes continue to 2 million twenty-foot equivalentgantrycranes.Therailyardgrow,thebenefitsaffordedby units (TEUs) by rail annually. Theexpansion project offers numer- thewideranddeeperchannel rail yard expansion project wasousbenefitssuchasanaddi- become even more evident. The designed to enhance the portstional 455,000 TEUs of annualnew channel will allow for the reachtoimportantMidwesternon-dockrailcapacity.Thissafe, two-way passage of ultra-populationandmanufacturingtranslatestoanincreaseof31largecontainervessels,creat-centersbytrain,accordingtopercent,andthepotentialforing a more efficient vessel flow Stephen A.Edwards,CEOandThe Port of Virginia to becomethat is expected to help reduce ExecutiveDirectoroftheVir- more competitive industry-wide. (DIGScontinued on page 31)ginia Port Authority.Edwards elaborated, Mod-ernizingandexpandingthe capabilityatNITs[Norfolk International Terminals] central rail yard gives us additional rail capacityaheadofthecomple-tion of the first phase of expan-sionatNITsNorthBerth[in 2025]. Cargo volumes coming to the U.S. East Coast are steadily increasing and moving the cargo to market by rail, over The Port of Virginia, is smart business.PollyTrottenberg,Deputy TransportationSecretary,said, We are proud to be a steward of thisportmodernizationproject contributing a $20 million invest-ment which not only expands theWe know transportation and Norfolk International Terminals centralrailyard,butservesto elevate the entire Port of Virginiawe know the Virginia ports. as a critical hub for trade on the East Coast.Details of The Port of Vir- Let us prove it to you.giniaexpansionprojectshow constructionbeganin2022, withthe$83-million-project810 Ford Dr, Norfolk, VA 23523delivered on time and on budget.www.centuryexpress.comAdditional information explains(757)-494-9200theportuseda$20million federal grant and a $20 millionPort Drayage / Rail Drayage / Hazmat Transport / Transloading / Stepdeck & Flatbed Transport / Refrigerated Drayagegrant from the state Department'