Robert Jepson News

Savannah port deepening gets green light. With the president’s signing today of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014, the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP) is authorized to begin construction. “With today’s action, SHEP has officially received a green light,” said Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Curtis Foltz. "This project is the result of an open and collaborative process involving all interested stakeholders which received approval of multiple regulatory agencies.

The U.S. Senate’s passage of the federal Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 (WRRDA) has cleared the way for construction to begin on the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project. The House passed identical legislation on Tuesday. Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Curtis Foltz called the bill’s passage a critical milestone. “Today’s action is an important step toward better accommodating the larger vessels that are the new standard in global shipping,” said Foltz.

The Georgia Ports Authority Board approved Monday $86.5 million to purchase four new ship-to-shore cranes and 20 new rubber-tired gantry cranes (RTGs) used to handle containers at Garden City Terminal. “Our continued infrastructure investments enable us to work larger vessels and provide faster service to our customers,” said GPA Executive Director Curtis Foltz. This latest order of new cranes is scheduled to arrive in February 2016, and will give GPA a total of 20 Super Post-Panamax cranes and nine Post-Panamax cranes, more than any other single, self-funded terminal in the U.S.

The Georgia Ports Authority has won new import business from Honda. The 2015 Honda Fit, built at the carmaker’s new plant in Celaya, Mexico, is moving into the U.S. through the Port of Brunswick. International Auto Processing (IAP) will handle the cars upon arrival. “Highlighting the truly global nature of auto manufacturing, a Japanese company building cars in Mexico has chosen Georgia’s deepwater ports as a vital gateway to the U.S.,” said GPA Executive Director Curtis Foltz.

The Georgia Ports Authority achieved its highest month on record in March, moving 2.61 million tons of cargo – a 15.5 percent increase over the same month a year ago. The 349,682-ton increase was powered largely by double-digit container growth. The Port of Savannah’s Garden City Terminal moved 260,539 twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEUs) during the month, up by 28,000 TEUs or 12 percent. Cargo moved by rail accounted for 254,263 containers, or about 19.8 percent of total container volume.

The Georgia Ports Authority has moved more than 2 million twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEUs) so far this fiscal year (July-February), for an increase of 6.2 percent or an additional 119,318 TEUs. “The strong growth experienced throughout our business sectors this fiscal year demonstrates the resilience and strength of the Southeast market, and a positive return on the continued investments in Georgia’s ports, rail, roads and logistical supply chain,” GPA Executive Director Curtis Foltz reported to the authority board Monday.

The Georgia Ports Authority opened calendar year 2014 with a strong January, achieving gains of 12.5 percent in twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEUs) and 7.3 percent in overall tonnage, compared to January 2013. "We are encouraged by the strong growth in January that continued a trend that began during the fourth quarter and are hopeful these volumes signal a strengthening U.S. and global economy," Foltz said. The Port of Savannah moved 259,159 TEUs, up from 230,372 over the same period a year ago.

For the first six months of Fiscal Year 2014, the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) said it has logged 8 percent growth in total tonnage. From July through December 2013, the GPA moved 14.36 million tons of cargo, up from 13.3 million tons over the same period in the previous fiscal year, GPA Executive Director Curtis Foltz reported to the authority board Monday. “Strong volumes in container traffic, bulk cargo and auto and machinery units for the month of December contributed to this successful mid-year report,” said Foltz.

The Georgia Ports Authority won recognition by the Environmental Protection Agency as a leader in reducing carbon emissions. The Southeast Diesel Collaborative (SEDC), a public-private partnership formed by the U.S. EPA Region 4 office, named the GPA as a Community Leadership Award winner. “The GPA has voluntarily undertaken many projects to decrease diesel fuel consumption, resulting in improved air quality,” said GPA Executive Director Curtis Foltz. In December 2012, the Georgia Ports Authority unveiled its first four electrified rubber-tired gantry cranes.

The Georgia Ports Authority achieved significant business gains in November, with a 6.6% increase in twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEUs) for the month, and a 7.3% increase in total tonnage across all terminals. The GPA moved 243,233 TEUs in November and reached 2,414,630 in total tonnage for the month. That compares to 228,184 TEUs and 2,249,431 total tons in November 2012. “New customers, combined with better than anticipated growth in the national economy in recent months…

At the Georgia Ports Authority board meeting Monday, Executive Director Curtis Foltz reported that the GPA achieved record volumes and added additional customer accounts in October. "Strong growth, new customer accounts and additional harbor deepening funding announced this month are all positive signs that Georgia's ports are moving in the right direction," said Foltz. Georgia ports moved a record 2.54 million tons of cargo during October – a 22% increase over the same month a year ago. The Colonel’s Island Terminal at the Port of Brunswick and Savannah’s Ocean Terminal combined to move a record 62,343 units of automobiles and heavy machinery in October, for an increase of 10,045 or 19.2% over October 2012.

All four of the super post-Panamax ship-to-shore cranes that arrived at the Port of Savannah in June are now fully operational at Georgia Ports Authority’s Garden City Terminal. The cranes arrived on a specialized vessel June 5. After the cranes were offloaded, crews began raising the booms, and the electrical and machinery housings roughly 100 feet to their proper position. Additional on-site work included elevator installation and final wiring connections. “Our new cranes, coupled with the pending harbor deepening and superior road and rail connections beyond our gates…

Outstanding trade in agribulk and roll-on/roll-off cargo at the Port of Brunswick led to an impressive 47 percent increase in total tonnage for fiscal year 2013. “Our deepwater ports provide vital support to our agricultural, forestry and manufacturing sectors,” said Georgia Governor Nathan Deal. “Because American-made goods are able to reach the global market efficiently through Georgia’s ports, these products are more competitive in international trade. For the second year in a row…

Records set in containers moved, total tonnage, and truck and intermodal moves made August an impressive month for the Georgia Ports Authority, Executive Director Curtis Foltz reported to the GPA board Monday. “Although we set new records in many categories during August, challenges remain in many of the global markets important to future trade volumes,” Foltz said. Total tonnage in August reached 2.5 million tons, up 8.5% over the previous August, an increase of 196,674 tons.

In Savannah visit, Georgia officials accompany Vice President. After touring the Port of Savannah Monday, Vice President Joe Biden called for expediting port improvement projects on the U.S. East Coast. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Fox, Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson, Congressman Jack Kingston, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, and Savannah Mayor Edna Jackson accompanied the vice president on the tour. “I appreciate the opportunity to show Vice President Biden the Port of Savannah firsthand…

In his State of the Port address, Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Curtis Foltz reported record cargo volumes, an influx of new business, and more than 1 million square feet of distribution center space leased or developed. “Not only did the ports authority achieve strong growth across major segments of our business, but the private sector responded with the lease or development of more than 1.1 million square feet of distribution center space,” said GPA Executive Director Curtis Foltz.

The Georgia Ports Authority marked record volumes for fiscal year 2013 in total tonnage, bulk cargo, total auto-machinery units, and freight moved by intermodal rail. “Our deepwater ports provide vital support to our agricultural, forestry and manufacturing sectors,” said Georgia Governor Nathan Deal. “Because American-made goods are able to reach the global market efficiently through Georgia’s ports, these products are more competitive in international trade. GPA Executive Director Curtis Foltz said record levels achieved across important business sectors in fiscal year 2013 are a testament to the superior service enjoyed by the customers of the GPA.

U.S. District Judge Richard M. Gergel accepted the settlement agreement between all parties involved in the mediation over the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP) in an order that dismissed the federal litigation pending against the proposed deepening of the harbor channel. “We appreciate the patience and persistence of former Congressman Spratt and federal Magistrate Hendricks who worked throughout the mediation process ordered by Judge Gergel to bring this litigation to a successful conclusion,” said GPA Executive Director Curtis Foltz. Parties to the mediation included the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, the Savannah Riverkeeper, the South Carolina Coastal Conservation League, the South Carolina Wildlife Federation, the U.S.

Part of regional boom in third-party logistics providers. Matson Logistics, a leading provider of multimodal transportation, warehousing, and distribution services throughout North America, has established new distribution center space in Savannah. “Our new operation expands on our ability to move retail goods in through the Port of Savannah,” said Mark Ferzacca, assistant vice president of sales for Matson Logistics Warehousing. Matson has contracted for 65,000 square feet, with the ability to increase to 125,000 square feet.

In a visit to the Port of Savannah, Panama’s Minister for Canal Affairs Roberto Roy described progress on the canal expansion and heard the latest news on deepening the Savannah Harbor to 47 feet. “With the historic expansion of the Panama Canal nearing completion, I applaud Georgia for making the improvement of its port infrastructure a fiscal priority,” said Roy, who also serves as Panama Canal Board Chairman. The Record of Decision, signifying final federal approval for the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project, was issued in October 2012.

The $50 million in additional port deepening funds proposed by Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal has been approved by the state legislature and now awaits the governor’s signature. Along with previous funding, Georgia has allocated $231.1 million toward the state’s portion of the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP). Deepening the Savannah Harbor from 42 to 47 feet will accommodate an increase in the number of super-sized container vessels transiting the Panama Canal after its 2015 expansion. With a deeper channel, larger and more heavily laden ships can arrive and depart with greater scheduling flexibility. These “Post Panamax” vessels will mean lower shipping costs per container slot.

Nordic Cold Storage announced the grand opening of the first phase of its storage and blast facility, located just minutes from the Port of Savannah. The site has over 200,000 square-feet of convertible temperature-controlled storage space and is capable of blasting more than 10 million pounds of product, ranging from fresh poultry to produce, per week. This $30 million facility currently employs 150 workers, but Nordic plans to start a second phase by the end of the year, which will mirror the existing infrastructure. The cold storage warehouse began receiving its first shipments this month.

Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) moved 2.4 million tons of cargo in April, a 4.7 percent increase – or 108,532 tons – over the same month a year ago. This figure was boosted by a strong performance in containers, bulk and Roll-on/Roll-off cargo. “Our total tonnage makes April the highest volume month on record,” said GPA Executive Director Curtis Foltz. The GPA also achieved a 4 percent increase in container traffic for April, moving 258,951 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), or 10,040 TEUs more than April 2012. Foltz said April container volume was 11.3 percent higher than March.