The Port of Richmond was awarded over $11 million this month from a federal grant program to invest in port infrastructure around the country. 

The Port of Richmond will use the money to make substantial improvements to the port’s Berth 7, which is a facility that moves vehicles and other cargo directly off ships, according to a statement from the Port of Richmond and Port Director Charles Gerard. 

The berth is considered a major piece of the Port’s infrastructure that is critical to its overall operation. But it has been working at diminished capacity for years because of aging infrastructure that limited operations, according to the Port. 

“This is a transformative investment in the Port of Richmond and the City of Richmond,” Gerard said. He said the work “will restore critical infrastructure, improve safety and efficiency, and position our Port to meet growing demand while strengthening the resilience of the nation’s supply chain.” 

The money was awarded from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Port Infrastructure Development Program, which is overseen by the U.S. Maritime Administration, an agency in the Department of Transportation. 

It comes as part of a push to invest in small shipyards with 1,200 employees or fewer, according to the Maritime Administration. 

The Port of Richmond’s Berth 7 project will cost an estimated roughly $14 million. The federal grant will pay for $11.2 million and the Port will contribute the rest. 

The work falls in line with the Port’s Dock Restoration for Improved Vehicle Entry Project, which Port officials refer to as the DRIVE Project. 

The DRIVE Project involves making structural repairs and improvements to the wharf, surface and deck improvements, increasing load-bearing capacity and making seismic upgrades, according to the Port of Richmond. 

Richmond Mayor Eduardo Martinez said in a statement that the grant was badly needed to keep the Port working into the foreseeable future. 

“This federal investment ensures that the Port of Richmond remains competitive, resilient, and ready to serve future generations,” Martinez said. 

Work is scheduled to begin in winter 2027 and be completed in about a year.