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Ports set records in total tonnage, auto-machinery units, bulk cargo and intermodal
The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) has reported record volumes in total tonnage, bulk cargo, autos and rail freight for fiscal year 2013.
During the twelve months ending June 30th, the GPA handled a record 27.23 million tonnes of cargo across its portfolio of terminals, representing a 2.4 percent rise over volumes handled in FY2012.
“Our overall tonnage increase has been fuelled by the strength of US exports and the GPA’s varied cargo spectrum,” commented GPA executive director, Curtis Foltz
The GPA also achieved a record total for the movement of auto and machinery units for the second consecutive year, which was up 11.7 percent year-over-year with 636,942 units handled during the year-long period.
Elsewhere, bulk cargo surged 61.8 percent over the previous year to reach 2.5 million tonnes, while container throughput was recorded at 2.94 million – the second busiest year in the GPA’s history
“Significant momentum moving into FY2014 combined with exciting developments in GPA’s customer base and in the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP), contribute to a powerful business outlook for Georgia’s ports,” said GPA board chairman, Robert Jepson.
The SHEP will see the Savannah Harbor deepened from 42 to 47 feet enabling the port to accommodate the influx of super-sized container vessels transiting the Panama Canal after its 2015 expansion. The state of Georgia has now allocated a total of US$231.1 million towards the project, which is expected to cost in the region of $652 million.