
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, June 20, 1994                    TAG: 9406200203 
SECTION: BUSINESS WEEKLY                     PAGE: 16    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: Short 
DATELINE: 940620                                 LENGTH:

THE PORT: FEWER COAL SHIPMENTS MEAN FEWER WATERFRONT JOBS

{LEAD} There have been fewer "black" days in the port of Hampton Roads lately. That's bad news for local maritime commerce. Coal exports are way down from their peak of three years ago. Fewer shipments of the black stuff, the port's biggest commodity, have forced job cutbacks and belt-tightening all around the Port - from ship pilots to tug operators to coal-testing labs.

Hampton Roads is still the East Coast's largest harbor by tonnage of cargo moved - nearly 52 million tons last year. And it's still the second-largest on the East Coast when it comes to general cargo. That's goods shipped in containers and in break-bulk form, such as plywood.

{REST} Though general-cargo trade has been rising, even that has a down side. Container ships are getting larger - so fewer ships are needed to carry more cargo. Fewer ships mean fewer tugs, pilots and agents are needed to assist them.

{KEYWORDS} ALMANAC

by CNB