Georgia’s Ports Report Growth

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.