GPA Plans Savannah Port Capacity Expansion

The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) has plans for a new container port on Hutchinson Island to increase the capacity of the Port of Savannah, Georgia, USA. The planned expansion will double the port’s annual capacity from 5.5 million TEUs to 11 million TEUs and the facility will be able to handle 2.5 million TEUs of cargo annually The new container port occupy a 200-acre area directly opposite Ocean Terminal in Savannah.

GPA executive director Griff Lynch commented: “The market has clearly chosen the Port of Savannah as the south-eastern hub for containerized trade. To fulfill the growing responsibility placed on our deepwater terminals, we have developed a plan to double our capacity.”

The expansion includes the installation of six additional ship-to-shore cranes at Garden City Terminal by next year bringing the total number of cranes at the terminal to 36. GPA is also considering launching a berth realignment project within the next three years to create dock space for more 14,000-TEU ships at Garden City Terminal.

GPA board chairman Will McKnight said: “What has set Savannah above the competition is our ability to scale up in advance of market needs so that we are ready when our customers are ready to grow. Our terminal infrastructure plan adheres to our investment philosophy of always keeping infrastructure ahead of current demand. This will ensure the GPA is prepared to handle the next wave of cargo expansion.”

A dual-rail service from the Port of Savannah to Chicago was recently launched to manage the increasing container trade crossing Garden City Terminal and the GPA is also considering a $220 million expansion of its on-terminal rail infrastructure at the Port of Savannah.