Georgia Ports Authority’s (GPA) Executive Director Curtis J. Foltz announced that a new set of electrified refrigerated container racks were completed and came online in Container Berth Five (CB-5) last week. With the ten new racks, Garden City Terminal now has a total of 44 racks, which accommodate 1,056 containers.
“The completion of these refrigerated container racks reduces diesel consumption and increases our capacity for cold-storage exports,” said Foltz. “We've continued to expand our export capacity, while reducing emissions."
As the leading U.S. East Coast port for refrigerated containerized export cargo, the GPA has more than doubled its refrigerated cargo volume in last six years with an increase of 120 percent. In the past two years alone, volume has increased 19.8 percent.
“Bringing these new racks online allows ocean carriers and shippers additional access and efficiencies for the export of their products,” said Foltz.
Before electrified refrigerated container racks were brought online in 2008, diesel generators were used to power refrigerated containers in tandem with wheeled parking spots with electrical hookups. Now, for every ten racks placed into service, the GPA saves about 540,000 gallons of diesel fuel annually, which would have been used to power diesel generators. With a total of 44 racks online, the GPA avoids using more than 2.376 million gallons annually.
(www.gaports.com)