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Capes Shipping, a division of CVI, Serves as Agent for Record Coal Loading in Hampton Roads
In December, Capes Shipping Agencies, a division of CV International, served as vessel agents the second largest cargo loading in the history of Norfolk Southern’s Pier 6 coal transloading facility at Lamberts Point in Norfolk.
On Dec. 27, 2010, Norfolk Southern finished loading 155,522 net tons (141,089.268 metric tons) of coal into the M.V. CAPE PROVENCE destined for Flushing, Netherlands and Dunkirk, France. The coal came from various Central Appalachian mines in 1,487 railroad coal cars and the loading was just short of the record 157,645 net tons for the M.V. IRONGATE in 1998.
Capes attended as vessel agents on behalf of ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steel maker. Capes’ coal forwarding department provided shippers’ agency representation to Cliffs North American Coal, one of the shippers supplying the vessel. Colin Macpherson, president of Capes, commented, “ Shipments in excess of 125,000 MT are rare. This fixture posed additional complexities due to the logistical coordination required in handling a vessel loading four lots from three shippers for two discharge ports. Compounding matters, the vessel called during a period of severe winter weather with increasingly busy activity at the coal terminal. Our experienced team met the various challenges and ensured that our principals were efficiently served while the vessel was under our care.”
The timing of the loading underscores an important point, commented Daniel D. Smith, Norfolk Southern’s senior vice president energy and properties. “The worldwide demand for coal for utilities and coke plants doesn’t take many holidays, and the partnership between Norfolk Southern and our coal suppliers, receivers, and agents is dependable around the clock and around the year,” he said.
Norfolk Southern opened Pier 6 for business in 1962 as the hemisphere's largest, fastest, and most efficient transloading facility. The company has been moving export coal through the same location at Lambert’s Point, Norfolk since 1884. In 1999, Pier 6 dumped its billionth ton of coal and became the only facility in the world to have reached that milestone. Coal moving through Pier 6 typically originates in Central Appalachian states, mainly Virginia and West Virginia. The channel depth of 50 feet in Hampton Roads is the deepest in the country and therefore most conducive to accommodating large vessels like the M.V. CAPE PROVENCE.
Capes Shipping Agencies is a leading regional vessel agency and coal forwarding business with offices in Norfolk, VA and Wilmington, DE. Capes directly services all the ports in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania and handles ship’s throughout the eastern seaboard and gulf coast through subagents and business partners.