The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) has reaped the benefits of 14,000-TEU vessels transiting the Panama Canal after finding that its container throughput volume for July is up by 12.7%, compared to the same month of 2017.
During July, which also saw the Port of Savannah enjoy its second busiest month on record, the port authority moved a total of 378,767 TEU.
Griff Lynch, Executive Director of GPA, made a statement: “July was an incredible start to our fiscal year, with double-digit growth across our container, breakbulk and dry bulk operations.
“Greater capacity, via cost-effective 14,000-TEU vessels transiting the Panama Canal, makes Savannah an even more competitive option to serve the Eastern US.”
Read more about the Port of Georgia's progress with a Port Technology technical paper
Other terminals within the GPA’s jurisdiction also performed well in July.
At Garden City, where rail cargo increased by 16% during the Fiscal Year 2018 (July 2017—June 2018), the terminal experienced its busiest month ever for intermodal cargo at 41,070 container moves.
Since the Fiscal Year 2016, GPA has witnessed its entire container trade grow by roughly 16%, which accounts for an additional 560,000 TEU. However, turn times for motor carriers and rail operations have not increased.
Jimmy Allgood, GPA Board Chairman, said: “Georgia has simply built a superior logistics solution and our customers and carriers are responding.
“We continue to deliver a congestion-free terminal operation, even with record growth.”