The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) moved 375,833 twenty-foot equivalent unit containers (TEUs) in August 2018, an 8% increase over August 2017. In addition, the GPA handled 86,200 intermodal TEUs, a 33% jump.
“A strengthening economy and a greater reliance on GPA in major inland markets is driving growth at the Port of Savannah,” said GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch. “We expect this trend to continue as more customers take advantage of Garden City Terminal’s central location and efficient terminal operations.”
For example, in August alone, rail cargo to and from Atlanta grew by 34%, while Nashville TN saw an increase of 72%.
During a meeting of the GPA board of directors in Atlanta recently, the authority approved $92 million for the Mason Mega Rail Terminal. The project will double the Port of Savannah’s annual rail capacity to 1 million containers and deliver the largest on-terminal rail facility in North America by 2020.
“It is no accident the GPA is constructing rail capacity as the demand for rail is growing,” said Jimmy Allgood, GPA board chairman. “As part of our strategic planning two years ago, our team identified the growing role intermodal cargo would play in GPA’s long-term success and put into place this plan for expansion.”
The work approved by the board includes 124,000 feet of new track, 88 automated switches and rail control devices, as well as the rail and power infrastructure to support operation of rail-mounted gantry cranes.
Added rail capacity will better accommodate 10,000-foot-long unit trains on Garden City Terminal. These more cost-effective trains will provide faster, more frequent service over greater distances. This will extend the territory best served by the Port of Savannah along an arc of cities ranging from Memphis to St Louis, Chicago and Cincinnati.
For more information, visit www.gaports.com.
