Business, Freight News, Sea

GPA Container Moves Grow 11.7% in CY2015; TEUs at All-Time High

[ January 26, 2016   //   Gary G Burrows ]

The Georgia Ports Authority achieved record container volumes in 2015, Executive Director Curtis Foltz reported to the GPA board on January 25.

Over the last calendar year, the Port of Savannah moved an all-time high 3.73 million twenty-foot equivalent container units, an increase of 391,356 TEUs, or 11.7 percent compared to CY2014.

“The expansion was fueled in part by heightened demand in the U.S. Southeast, Savannah’s logistical advantages drawing new customers to Georgia, and cargo diverted from the West Coast,” said Foltz.

Total tonnage across all terminals reached a record 31.48 million tons in CY2015, an increase of 1.09 million tons, or 3.6 percent. Container tonnage accounted for most of that growth, adding 991,031 tons (up 4 percent), for a total of 25.81 million tons. Bulk cargo added 60,705 tons (up 2.2 percent) to reach 2.86 million, while breakbulk cargo grew 1.7 percent, or 47,358 tons, to reach 2.79 million tons.

The board also approved the purchase of four new ship-to-shore cranes for the Port of Savannah, bringing the total number to 30.  Currently the port features 22 ship-to-shore cranes. These machines can reach across vessels 22 containers wide and lift cargo weighing up to 72 tons to a height of 152 feet above the dock. Each crane weighs 1,388 tons and measures 433 feet wide and 185 feet tall.

“Even before the new cranes arrive, Savannah has more cranes on its nearly two-mile long dock than any other single terminal in North America,” Foltz said.

The cranes represent a $47 million investment. The cranes will arrive in late spring 2018. The additions are part of the board’s Focus 2026 Capital Plan, which calls for 34 ship-to-shore cranes at Garden City Terminal.

The board also approved $8.2 million for Phase III of construction of a new empty container depot.

 

Tags: Georgia Ports Authority