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PORT OF SAVANNAH RECORDS 25% RISE IN CARGO VOLUME FOR JULY
August 17, 2021
The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) said Port of Savannah handled 450,000 TEUs in July, representing an increase of 25%, while auto and machinery units in Brunswick grew to 61,470, up 39% compared to the same month last year.
In a statement, GPA said Savannah’s Garden City’s Terminal, which added nearly 900,000 TEUs in FY2021, has now achieved container trade records in nine of the past 10 months.
In Brunswick, four out of the top 10 months for Ro/Ro trade have occurred since October 2020.
GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch said consumer demand and the addition of extra loader vessels is driving a prolonged surge in volumes.
GPA has expedited projects to add space for another 1.4 million TEUs annually.
It said its peak capacity project will add 700,000 TEUs in two phases, the first of which opens this fall.
In March 2022, a 25-acre parcel along Ga. 21 will also open operation as a support services site for Garden City Terminal, increasing on-terminal chassis storage.
In 2023, GPA will commission another 92 acres, adding 750,000 TEUs of annual capacity.
“We’re expecting continued elevated demand in both Brunswick and Savannah through at least the end of 2021,” said GPA Board Chairman Joel Wooten. “To accommodate growing business, the board approved last month US$525 million in bonds to fund our berth and container yard enhancements.”
Also in 2023, improvements to Berth 1 at Garden City Terminal will be completed.
The port noted that the new dock will allow Savannah to simultaneously serve four 16,000-TEU vessels, and three additional ships. In a related project, GPA is purchasing eight new ship-to-shore cranes, for a total of 38.
Additionally, it added that the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project is now 90% — and the deepening will allow Super Post-Panamax vessels to take on heavier loads and transit the river with greater scheduling flexibility.
