Stephen Edwards and Joe Lynch discuss the port of Virginia. Stephen is is the CEO and Executive Director of the Virginia Port Authority (VPA). In 2019, CNBC ranked Virginia as the #1 state for business, and The Port of Virginia plays a key role in Virginia’s ability to serve those businesses.
About Stephen Edwards
Stephen A. Edwards is the CEO and Executive Director of the Virginia Port Authority (VPA). He is responsible for the broad programmatic areas of business and relationship development, infrastructure development, strategic marketing, economic development, finance, security and safety. He directs and manages the operations of Virginia’s marine and inland terminal facilities through Virginia International Terminals, LLC, the port’s private terminal operating company, including Virginia International Gateway, Newport News Marine Terminal, Norfolk International Terminals, Portsmouth Marine Terminal, Richmond Marine Terminal and the Virginia Inland Port. He is a globally experienced leader in the maritime industry with extensive operational experience and a proven track record of growing businesses and creating long-term value for customers and stakeholders. Before joining the VPA in January 2021, Stephen served as President and Chief Executive Officer for TraPac, LLC.and was responsible for the overall performance of the company with focus on safety, service and sustainability. Prior to that, he was the CEO of Global Container Terminals. Previous industry experience includes president and CEO of Port America Group and president and CEO of P&O Ports North America. In his capacity as CEO and Executive Director of the VPA, Stephen will serve as an ex-officio member of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) board of directors. Stephen holds a BS degree in Transport Management from Aston University in England.
About Port of Virginia
The Virginia Port Authority’s operations are provided by Virginia International Terminals, LLC (VIT), a single-member limited liability company wholly owned by the Virginia Port Authority (VPA). In addition, Hampton Roads Chassis Pool, LLC (HRCP II), on behalf of and wholly owned by VIT, operates and manages the intermodal chassis and empty container yards. In 2019, CNBC ranked Virginia as the #1 state for business, and The Port of Virginia plays a key role in Virginia’s ability to serve those businesses. In a larger sense, The Port of Virginia is doing everything necessary to become the U.S. East Coast’s leading gateway for global trade for the next several decades, and to make Virginia the #1 place for businesses in the country. According to an economic impact study conducted by the Mason School of Business at the College of William & Mary, 437,000 Virginia jobs – nearly ten percent of the state’s resident workforce – are linked to port activity across our six terminals. The port helps generate more than $1 billion in total economic impact throughout Virginia. Between 2015 and 2025, the port will have invested more than $2.2 billion in its infrastructure – modernizing its network of six terminals that are capable of handling almost any type of cargo. Dredges hit the port’s waters in late 2019 and the deepening and widening efforts are in full swing. By 2024, The Port of Virginia will once again be the deepest port on the US East Coast with 55’ channels and two-way traffic for the largest vessels calling our coast.
Key Takeaways: The Port of Virginia
- Stephen Edwards is the CEO and Executive Director of the Virginia Port Authority (VPA).
- In the podcast interview, Stephen and Joe discussed the role of ports in global trade, the strategic importance of Port of Virginia and the investments that will make the port and Virginia even more competitive.
- Click the link to learn more about the $1.3 billion investment in the Port of Virginia: Port of Virginia in midst of major upgrades
- The 6 terminals that comprise The Port of Virginia operate on a combined 1,864 acres, with 19,885 LF of berth going to 50’ in some locations, and utilizing 30 miles of on-dock rail to transport cargo to and from markets around the globe.
- Together, the Port of Virginia network of terminals can process 4,000,000 containers on an annual basis. From ultra large container vessels arriving from across the Atlantic, inland barge service traveling up the James River, to the #1 position in rail volume on the East Coast, the Port of Virginia has what it takes to serve their customers and stakeholders.
- The Port of Virginia will achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. Key objectives to achieve net-zero carbon include:
- Electrification of assets
- Zero-emission technology
- Purchase of clean energy to power our operations
- The Port of Virginia delivers opportunity by driving business to, and through, the Commonwealth.
- The Port of Virginia’s diverse talent, agile use of technology, and command of our ever-changing industry sets the pace for the supply chain of today, while plotting the course for its tomorrow.
Learn More About The Port of Virginia
Port of Virginia in midst of major upgrades