Savannah scores record growth

In addition, Georgia’s multi-purpose facility Ocean Terminal almost doubled its breakbulk cargo in April – increasing 96.3% to 81,691 tonnes to reach 166,489 tonnes. GPA’s total breakbulk tonnage grew by 38.7% for April to reach 322,603 tonnes.

The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) says it’s been focusing on handling large volume increases with no congestion and is looking to improve further after committing US$141.8m of its 2016 budget to upgrade existing assets. Around US$33m will be used to improve power infrastructure for cranes, paving, increase rail capacity and other terminal improvements at the ports of Savannah and Brunswick.

“Our long-time policy has been to maintain capacity at least 20% above demand through timely infrastructure investments,” said Jimmy Allgood, vice chairman, GPA Board. “By making these commitments now, GPA will be prepared to handle expanding cargo volumes both now and in the future.”

A further US$83.4m will go towards property development and the purchase of new equipment. Of that, US$33m will pay for 30 new RTGs, while the addition of conductor rails to support Savannah’s transition to more efficient electric RTGs will cost US$11.5m and allow 20 more RTGs to run on electricity instead of diesel.

The GPA Board also dedicated US$16.5m toward the purchase of four new ship-to-shore cranes and US$48.19m for super post-panamax cranes.

Elsewhere, US$3m will pay for property development needed for expanding business in general cargo at Savannah’s Ocean Terminal. At Colonel’s Island Terminal in Brunswick, US$5.5m will go to develop more land to support growing auto volumes.

In a third main funding category, the board set aside US$25m in infrastructure reserves.