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GPA continues to prepare for influx of larger vessels with giant STS cranes
The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) has reported that all four of its super post-Panamamax ship-to-shore (STS) cranes that arrived in June at the Port of Savannah’s Garden City Terminal are fully operational.
The first of Savannah’s new STS cranes went into service in August, with the three other cranes coming online every few weeks. The fourth and final crane to be put into operation moved its first load of cargo on Wednesday.
“Our new cranes, coupled with the pending harbour deepening and superior road and rail connections beyond our gates, mean the Port of Savannah is poised to take advantage of the next evolution in global commerce,” said GPA executive director, Curtis Foltz.
When the deeper Panama Canal opens in 2015, the average vessel calling on the US East Coast is expected to shift from a capacity of 4,500 TEU to approximately 9,000 TEU. The larger vessels will offer 20 to 40 percent savings on shipping costs.
“The four additional ship-to-shore cranes increase our fleet to 27, including nine post-Panamax and 16 super post-Panamax cranes,” said GPA’s chief operating officer, Griff Lynch.
“Operating over 9,700 feet of contiguous berth space, the new equipment will mean even faster turn times for the vessels calling on Savannah, generating both time and cost savings for port customers.”
