A first test pile was driven 83 ft into the riverbed, with work on primary support piles getting underway in February. When completed, the expansion will extend the existing north berth by 900 ft and will provide space for three new Suez-class cranes. In addition, the dockside depth is being dredged to 50 ft, while the reconfiguration of 19 acres of container yard for straddle carrier operations is virtually complete.
NIT North, operated by the Virginia Ports Authority, was opened in 1998 and has since undergone a number of expansion projects. The cost of the current expansion is estimated at around US$76m, including US$32m for the wharf extension and US$24m for the new cranes.
