Savannah Harbour News

The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) has received final approval for its harbor deepening, which will allow the Port of Savannah to more efficiently serve Post-Panamax vessels and lower shipping costs for containerized trade by $213 million a year. Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Army (Civil Works) Jo-Ellen Darcy issued the Record of Decision Oct. 26, approving the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP). “The Record of Decision affirms that this is a project of national significance,” said GPA Executive Director Curtis Foltz. “It is a major milestone culminating what has been a 15-year effort.

The Port of Savannah, long the US east coast star for Asian imports, posted a 4.2 per cent decline in container volume in April year on year to 248,886 TEU, compared to 260,063 TEU the same period last year and 259,796 TEU in March. Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) executive director Curtis Foltz said a "very fragile US economic recovery and on-going consumer uncertainty for the balance of 2012" were the main reasons of the contraction. Conversely, roll-on and roll-off volumes at the GPA's Port of Brunswick grew 57.7 per cent year on year to a new high of 59,974 units. Mr Foltz said "the growing export market for vehicles and heavy equipment produced in Georgia and around the southeast" had driven the high volume boom.