According to Doug J. Marchand, Executive Director of the
Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), the ports started off the new fiscal year with double-digit gains in both container growth and the movement of auto and machinery units. Records show a total of
127,471 TEUs (20-ft. Equivalent Units) were handled through the Port of Savannah during July 2003, the first month of GPA's 2004 fiscal year. The additional cargo represents a 16.4 percent increase over this time last year.
Records also show that 26,529 auto and machinery units were handled through the Port of Brunswick during July, or an impressive 37.4 percent increase over this time last year.
Several weeks ago, Georgia Governor, Sonny Perdue, announced a $110 million project at the Port of Savannah that will expand the capacity of the Garden City Terminal by 20 percent, adding an additional 2,100 feet in linear berthing space. When complete, the Port of Savannah will feature over 9,800 feet in linear berthing space, thus increasing what is already the largest single terminal container facility anywhere on the coast from Maine to Texas.