The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) has said expansions and new business accounted for nearly US$5 billion in investment and 12,000 new jobs in the fiscal year 2019, the centerpiece of which are plans to double annual capacity at the Garden City Terminal to 11 million TEU.
In a statement, the GPA expanded on plans to increase capacity at the Garden City Terminal, such as the inclusion of six new ship-to-shore (STS) cranes and a major berth realignment to accommodate 14,000 TEU mega-ships.
The additional STS cranes will take the GPA’s fleet to 36, a figure it aims to continually expand upgrade and expand.
By 2027, the cranes and revamped dock space, along with a new Hutchison Island terminal, will allow the Port of Savannah to significantly increase its big ship capacity.
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The plans, the GPA says, will build upon the Port of Savannah’s accelerating status as a hub for business and regional trade.
The Port saw an increase in its containerized trade of 7.3% in the fiscal year ending in June 2019. Speaking at about its potential, GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch said: “The market has clearly chosen the Port of Savannah as the South-eastern hub for containerized trade.
“To fulfil the growing responsibility placed on our deep-water terminals, we have developed a plan to double our capacity.”
GPA Board Chairman Will McKnight also commented:“What has set Savannah above the competition is our ability to scale up in advance of market needs, so that we are ready when our customers are ready to grow.
“Our terminal infrastructure plan adheres to our investment philosophy of always keeping infrastructure ahead of current demand. This will ensure the GPA is prepared to handle the next wave of cargo expansion.”