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Friday, March 29, 2024

Georgia’s Ports Report Growth

Maritime Activity Reports, Inc.

September 25, 2007

Doug J. Marchand, Executive Director of the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), released tonnage and volume reports reflecting a strong start to fiscal year 2008 during a meeting of its board of directors. He cited tonnage growth of 26.9 percent, or 2.1 million tons in August, and a 26.7 percent growth in July, for a total increase of 910,00 tons. Port of Savannah handled 236,020 Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit containers (TEUs) for August, a 30.1-percent increase and a combined 467,711 TEUs for the first two months of the fiscal year. The Authority reported 28.5-percent increase in TEUs for the fiscal year to date. Marchand also indicated the Authority would bring an additional 14 Rubber Tire Gantry Cranes on-line in FY08, four ship-to-shore cranes in early 2008 and by late 2009 another four cranes at the Garden City Terminal. In addition, Marchand said the $100 plus million capital improvement plan for FY08 includes considerable infrastructure improvements, new technology upgrades and $12m to complete Phase 1 of the Chatham Yard ICTF. The Authority reported 23.3 percent growth in bulk cargo for August and a 44 percent increase, or 143,376 additional tons, in the first two months of the fiscal year. The total gain in bulk cargo was the result of strong volumes of bio-diesel products and sand in Savannah, gypsum, perlite and urea at Marine Port Terminal in Brunswick and barley, malt, and peanut hulls at Colonel’s Island. The Authority approved $3.85m in funding to provide utilities and roadway access on the South Side of Colonel’s Island to support further expansion. The Authority approved $2m for the initial engineering and environmental services necessary to expedite the completion of the Jimmy DeLoach Connector, a direct truck corridor into Savannah’s Garden City Terminal. Georgia’s deepwater ports and inland barge terminals support more than 286,476 jobs throughout the state annually and contribute $14.9b in income, $55.8b in revenue and $2.8b in state and local taxes to Georgia’s bustling economy.