Port of Virginia North Berth Progresses with Arrival of New RTGs

Calm seas and warm weather on Monday greeted a heavy-lift vessel and its load of six rail-mounted gantry (RMG) cranes as it made its way into the Norfolk Harbor and ultimately the North Berth of Norfolk International Terminals (NIT).

This load of cranes -- and their counterparts that arrived in 2025 -- are the centerpieces of a renovation and modernization project underway at the North Berth. The state-of-the-art cranes allow for the safe and efficient movement of cargo between the vessel, truck and rail.

The cranes, which were purchased in 2023, were manufactured by Finland-based Konecranes and are critical components of the North Berth’s modernization. When the North berth project is done, it will be served by 36 RMGs; the total cost of the crane package is nearly $150 million.

“We are well-past the half-way point of construction on the North Berth project and we are in the final phase of equipment delivery,” said Sarah J. McCoy, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. “The North Berth project is the last piece in the overall modernization of our primary container terminals and we are on-time and on-budget with the project.

This story was originally published by The Maritime Executive. Read the full story at The Maritime Executive →