Ports Authority marks busiest June, record year

The Georgia Ports Authority has on order 10 new ship-to-shore cranes that will dramatically increase vessel loading capacity at Garden City Terminal to 1,300 containers per hour more than any other single terminal in North America. - photo by Provided

container ships — The Georgia Ports Authority has on order 10 new ship-to-shore cranes that will dramatically increase vessel loading capacity at Garden City Terminal to 1,300 containers per hour more than any other single terminal in North America. - photo by Provided

Bryan County News

Updated: Jul 29, 2017, 11:00 AM

Published: Jul 26, 2017, 1:08 AM

At its July board meeting, the Georgia Ports Authority reported record fiscal year results and approved the purchase of six new ship-to-shore cranes.

In fiscal 2017, the GPA moved an all-time high of 3.85 million 20-foot equivalent container units(TEUs), an increase of 6.7 percent, or 242,221 TEUs over the previous year. In the last half of fiscal 2017 alone, the Port of Savannah handled an impressive 1.99 million TEUs, for a growth rate of 11.6 percent over the same period in fiscal 2016.

"We could not have achieved this record-breaking year without the hard work and outstanding dedication of our employees," said GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch. "Our volume growth continues to outpace forecasted demand. Shipping lines are moving 13,000- and 14,000-TEU vessels into service on the East Coast more quickly than anticipated and concentrating their deliveries at efficient gateway ports like Savannah. This new crane purchase, along with the four already on order, will enable GPA to increase crane capacity by nearly 40 percent."

The Georgia Ports Authority capped a record fiscal year with its busiest June ever, moving 337,710 TEUs, for growth of 17 percent for the month. In fiscal 2017, the GPA moved 33.4 million tons of cargo across all terminals, another all-time high and an 8.3 percent increase over fiscal 2016.

"Phenomenal cargo growth on this scale is made possible by the strong partnership we enjoy with the International Longshoremen's Association, the unwavering support of Gov. Nathan Deal and the General Assembly, and the confidence our customers have in Georgia's ports," said GPA Board Chairman Jimmy Allgood.

At the meeting Monday, the board approved $72.75 million to purchase six more Neopanamax ship-to-shore cranes. The new machines will arrive in 2020, and are in addition to a previous order of four cranes that will be operational in June of next year.

The combined 10 additional cranes will bring the fleet to 36, able to move more than 1,300 containers per hour across a single dock – a capacity unmatched by any other single terminal in North America.

Record April boosts Savannah's container trade at port

The Port of Savannah moved 356,700 20-foot equivalent container units in April, an increase of 7.1 percent. - photo by Provided

GardenCityTerminal — The Port of Savannah moved 356,700 20-foot equivalent container units in April, an increase of 7.1 percent. - photo by Provided

Bryan County News

Updated: May 23, 2018, 1:59 AM

Published: May 23, 2018, 2:00 AM

The Georgia Ports Authority's busiest April ever pushed its fiscal year-to-date totals to more than 3.4 million 20-foot equivalent container units (TEUs), an increase of 8.8 percent, or 280,000 TEUs, compared to the first 10 months of fiscal 2017.

"We're on track to move more than 300,000 TEUs in every month of the fiscal year, which will be a first for the authority," said GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch. "We're also anticipating this to be the first fiscal year for the Port of Savannah to handle more than 4 million TEUs."

April volumes reached 356,700 20-foot equivalent container units, up 7.1 percent or 23,700 units. As the fastest growing containerport in the nation, the Port of Savannah has achieved a compound annual growth rate of more than 5 percent a year over the past decade.

"As reported in the recent economic impact study by UGA's Terry College of Business, trade through Georgia's deepwater ports translates into jobs, higher incomes and greater productivity," said GPA Board Chairman Jimmy Allgood. "In every region of Georgia, employers rely on the ports of Savannah and Brunswick to help them become more competitive on the global stage."

To strengthen the Port of Savannah's ability to support the state's future economic growth, the GPA Board approved $66 million in terminal upgrades, including $24 million for the purchase of 10 additional rubber-tired gantry cranes.

"The authority is committed to building additional capacity ahead of demand to ensure the Port of Savannah remains a trusted link in the supply chain serving Georgia and the Southeast," Lynch said.

The crane purchase will bring the fleet at Garden City Terminal to 156 RTGs. The new cranes will support three new container rows, which the board approved in March. The additional container rows will increase annual capacity at the Port of Savannah by 150,000 TEUs.

The RTGs will work over stacks that are five containers high and six deep, with a truck lane running alongside the stacks. Capable of running on electricity, the cranes will have a lift capacity of 50 metric tons.

The cranes will arrive in two batches of five in the first and second quarters of calendar year 2019.

Also at Monday's meeting, the GPA Board elected its officers, with Jimmy Allgood as chairman, Will McKnight taking the position of vice chairman and Joel Wooten elected as the next secretary/treasurer.

For more information, visit gaports.com, or contact GPA Senior Director of Corporate Communications Robert Morris at (912) 964-3855 or rmorris@gaports.com.

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