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OCT 1, 2024

Work Stoppage Impact

As a result of the expiration of the master agreement between United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) and the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), there is a work stoppage at The Port of Virginia and the ports along the U.S. East and Gulf coasts.

The following operations will be closed until an agreement is reached.

    • Norfolk International Terminals
    • Virginia International Gateway
    • Newport News Marine Terminal
    • Pinners Point Container Yard
    • Portsmouth Chassis Yard
    • Reefer Service Area
    • The Damage Annex

The office of the Virginia Port Authority, Virginia International Terminals and Hampton Roads Chassis Pool II are open in accordance with their regular schedules.

Richmond Marine Terminal and Virginia Inland Port will operate normally, but cargo operations will be impacted.

Portsmouth Marine Terminal will operate as normal.

Our hope is for a speedy resolution that allows The Port of Virginia to implement its resumption of operations plan to methodically and safely bring terminals back online.

At this time, it is unclear how long this work stoppage will last. We will continue to provide live updates through this webpage and stay in close contact with our customers and partners on the status of our operations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a strike at The Port of Virginia?

Yes; it began at 12:01 A.M. on Tuesday, Oct. 1.

Why, what happened?

The contract negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) have reached an impasse and the existing USMX-ILA Master Contract expired Monday, Sept. 30 at midnight.

How did this happen?

USMX and the ILA are negotiating a new master contract that will cover port workers on the (U.S.) Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

    • The USMX represents employers in the maritime industry, including container carriers, marine terminal operators and port associations
    • The ILA represents workers at ports on the U.S. East and Gulf coasts
    • The USMX-ILA Master Contract covers ILA members from Maine to Texas
    • The last contract went into effect Oct. 1, 2018 and expired Sept. 30, 2024

Is this only happening at The Port of Virginia?

No, this is not unique to Virginia. This is a coast-wide labor action, meaning it is directed at container ports along the U.S. East and Gulf coasts.

What does this mean for the port?

As a result, there are no cargo operations taking place today at the following terminals:

    • Norfolk International Terminals (NIT)
    • Virginia International Gateway (VIG)
    • Newport News Marine Terminal (NNMT)
    • Pinners Point Container Yard (PPCY)
    • Portsmouth Chassis Yard (PCY)
    • Reefer Service Area (RSA)
    • Damage Annex

Richmond Marine Terminal (RMT) and Virginia Inland Port (VIP) are operating per normal, but cargo operations there will be affected by what is happening locally. Portsmouth Marine Terminal (PMT) is operating per normal.

Is the port closed?

No. While NIT, VIG, NNMT and the support operations are closed, all port administrative offices are open for business.

If the port is open and VPA / VIT employees are working, why can’t cargo operations continue?

The employees of the Virginia Port Authority and its operating company, Virginia International Terminals, LLC, are performing their responsibilities, which are not operational in nature. No cargo is moving in or out of the port during this work stoppage.

What do things look like going forward?

During this work stoppage, the port will not be receiving vessels at NIT, VIG or NNMT. Further:

    • There will be no movement of containers in-and-out of the terminals by train
    • The truck gates at NIT, VIG and NNMT are closed to all motor carriers
    • The PPCY/PCY/RSA and Damage Annex are not receiving any empty containers or providing any chassis or repair services
    • The Richmond Express barge service is idle

How long will this go on?

At this time, it is unclear. Our hope is that both parties return to the negotiations and reach a mutually beneficial agreement that allows for the resumption of operations.

What are you saying to cargo owners?

We are asking for their patience and understanding. Prior to this action, we were in close contact with cargo owners who use The Port of Virginia and helped them reach decisions on how best to manage their cargo during this event. We will remain in close communication with cargo owners and customers throughout this period.

Will the port’s construction projects be impacted?

No, contractors working on the NIT North Berth renovation project have full access to the worksite.

What does the resumption of operations look like?

We will approach our restart exactly like we would coming out of a nature-driven work stoppage like a hurricane or snowstorm.

We have a resumption of operations plan where we safely and methodically bring the terminals back online and have successfully executed this plan several times. This plan focuses on safety and preparation and allows us to check and position equipment to ensure that all of our operating systems are up and working in concert.

This resumption of operations plan is built on close communication with our customers, stakeholders and partners. Through a successful restart, we will ensure partners understand where we are in the process, which allows them to plan accordingly.