US$6m for Brunswick harbour improvements

Recommended by the US Army Corps of Engineers, plans include a bend widener, expansion of the turning basin, and an expanded meeting area at St. Simons Sound.

“For the past four years, we’ve seen an increasing number of vessel calls at the Port of Brunswick, and the car carriers serving Colonel’s Island have expanded in size to 7,000-vehicle capacity,” said Georgia Ports Authority president and chief executive, Griff Lynch.

“An improved channel will better accommodate growing business demand, and perfectly complements the terminal improvements we’re making in Brunswick.”

The state allocation for the works is a pass-through to the Corps of Engineers to pay for the non-federal share of the project. The entire cost is expected to be US$17.45 million, with a federal share of US$11.35 million.

The project will benefit the auto carriers calling on Colonel’s Island as well as bulk and breakbulk vessels carrying commodities such as forest products and raw rubber.

Still under construction on Colonel’s Island are additional buildings totalling 182,000 square feet (17,000 sqm) and another 42 acres (17 ha) of RoRo cargo storage. The landside projects, paid for via port proceeds, will increase the terminal’s capacity to complete on-site processing for autos and machinery.

The Georgia Ports Authority is investing more than US$260 million in Brunswick infrastructure. Recently completed projects at the Colonel’s Island auto port include 350,000 square feet (32,500 sqm) of on-dock warehousing, 100,000 square feet (9,290 sqm) of warehousing on the south end of Colonel’s Island and 80 additional acres (32 ha) for RoRo storage.