The Georgia Port Authority (GPA) has invested $34 million into the Port of Savannah to help expedite an additional 1.6 million TEU in capacity which will be delivered in two phases, with phase one set to be completed in December.
Part of the project’s approved expenditures also included the purchase of 22.2 acres adjacent to GPA’s 145-acre West Expansion property. On top of this, the Board also provided funds to begin developing another 18 acres of land adjacent to GPA’s 60-acre Peak Capacity project.
Both of these land investments will add a total of 230 acres of container handling space.
“In three months, this investment will begin to deliver the additional capacity we need to better accommodate increased volumes and demand for our services,” said Griff Lynch, Executive Director for the GPA.
“I would like to thank our Board of Directors for their confidence in our ability to grow our existing terminal; our customers for sticking with us and, in many cases, increasing their commitment to Georgia’s ports; and to the men and women working throughout the supply chain, and especially GPA’s employees, I want to thank you for your hard work and dedication during unprecedented times in our industry.”
Joel Wooten, GPA’s chairman of the board, added “The GPA’s expansion strategy will not only maintain Savannah’s position as the hub port of the US Southeast but strengthen its ability to drive economic growth and private investment for communities across Georgia.”
The news comes after the port experienced its second busiest month in its history during August 2021, handling 485,595 TEU, only seconded by March 2021 when Garden City Terminal handled 498,000 TEU.
The success of the Port of Savannah has continued throughout 2021 to the extent where Georgia Governor, Brian Kemp, said US companies are increasingly seeing it as a “critical gateway” for goods.
