Maritime, Transportation, and Logistics

Norfolk is the prime location for businesses in the Maritime, Transportation, and Logistics industry. Given Norfolk is home to the Port of Virginia, the deepest harbor on the East Coast, there is a heavy concentration of businesses involved in freight transportation arrangement, marine cargo handling, logistics consulting services, port and harbor operations, coastal and deep-sea freight transportation, supply chain management, and warehousing and storage.

The Port of Virginia handled 3.5 million TEUs in 2021¹ and is in the process of expanding two of its container terminals to accommodate the increased volume caused by a surge in international trade and consumer spending. Port-related activity is booming and local universities have responded to the demand for skilled workers by developing educational programs that produce graduates with the expertise needed in this sector.

Competitive Advantages:

Location:

• The ability to reach 75% of the U.S. population within a two-days’ drive and open sea in about 2.5 hours.²
• Access to major Interstate routes I-85 and I-95 via I-264 and I-64²
• Home to Norfolk International Airport
• Home to Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) #20³
• Access to CSX and Norfolk Southern’s intermodal rail services via The Port of Virginia to/from 16 Midwest and Southeast inland points.²

Norfolk International Terminals (NIT):

• Located on 567 acres along the Elizabeth and Lafayette Rivers, Norfolk International Terminals (NIT) is served by 14 super Post-Panamax class ship-to-shore (STS) cranes. NIT has a total of 6,630 linear feet of berthing that is dredged to 50’ capable of handling the newest class of Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs) now calling the East Coast.⁴

Research Centers:

• Old Dominion University’s International Maritime, Ports & Logistics Institute: The institute serves as a hub where industry practitioners, students, faculty and community can connect and collaborate to develop solutions to challenges in our maritime, industrial and logistics ecosystem.⁵
• Old Dominion University’s OpenSeas Technology Innovation Hub: The OpenSeas Technology Innovation Hub is a globally-focused center that investigates “wicked” and “intractable” problems in the maritime and coastal arenas, discovers innovative solutions for these problems, then works with individuals and companies to grow these solutions into businesses that provide value to the world.⁶

Educational Programs:

• Old Dominion University, located in Norfolk, VA, offers the following related educational programs:
  • Maritime Supply Chain Management: Bachelor’s
  • Maritime Trade and Supply Chain Management: Master’s
  • Maritime, Ports, and Logistics Management: Certificate
  • Supply Chain Management: Certificate
• Norfolk State University (NSU) offers the following related educational programs:
  • Logistics Management: Certificate
• Tidewater Community College (TCC) offers the following related educational programs:
  • Maritime Logistics: Associate’s

[1]Source: The Port of Virginia, https://www.portofvirginia.com/
[2]Source: The Port of Virginia, Fast Facts – About Us, https://www.portofvirginia.com/
[3]Source: The Port of Virginia, Fast Facts – Economic Development, https://www.portofvirginia.com/
[4] Source: The Port of Virginia, Facilities, Norfolk International Terminals (NIT), https://www.portofvirginia.com/capabilities/
[5] Source: Old Dominion University, Strome College of Business International Maritime, Ports & Logistics Institute, https://ww1.odu.edu/business/center/port.html
[6] Source: Old Dominion University, Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, OpenSeas Technology Innovation Hub, https://ww1.odu.edu/iie/openseas

Maritime, Transportation, & Logistics in Norfolk:
Total Jobs, Earnings, and Businesses