Milestones: Georgia
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Georgia Ports Mark Sixth Record Year, Reviews $142M Improvement Plan
"In Fiscal Year 2015, we experienced unprecedented growth, with West Coast diversions to East Coast ports, a recovering U.S. economy and import market share gains leading to all-time highs in cargo volume," Mr. Foltz told a crowd of more than 1,300. "The fact we were able to handle this influx of business without congestion has opened doors to long-term opportunities for Georgia. This new improvement plan will continue to keep Savannah's capacity ahead of demand."
Total cargo across all terminals reached 31.7 million tons for the year, a 7.8 percent increase.
Effective, efficient port services are an important lure for new business," Mr. Foltz said. "In fact, port-related expansions announced during FY15 will bring more than $619 million in private investment and more than 2,770 new jobs to Georgia."
The growth came in the form of warehouse and distribution centers for major retailers and logistics providers for refrigerated cargo, as well as automotive and other manufacturing sites.
Mr. Foltz also detailed progress toward deepening the Savannah Harbor. Last month, a contractor began work on a $134.5 million contract to dredge the 18.5-mile outer harbor to 49 feet at mean low water.
Beyond the terminal gates, the Georgia Department of Transportation is set to complete the Jimmy Deloach Parkway extension in 2016. The project will provide a direct route between Garden City Terminal and Interstates 95 and 16, separating truck and commuter traffic, and cutting transit time for both.
In his annual State of the Port address, Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Curtis Foltz described FY 2015 as a year of extraordinary growth and provided a review of the $142 million fiscal year 2016 capital expenditure plan.
Included in the plan to significantly increase capacity at the Garden City Terminal is an empty container depot that will add slots for more than 15,000 TEUs. A new Gate 8 will add eight additional interchange lanes by March of next year. In FY 2016 as well, the GPA will take delivery of four new ship-to-shore cranes, and 30 new rubber-tired gantry cranes, boosting fleet totals to 26 and 146, respectively.
"In Fiscal Year 2015, we experienced unprecedented growth, with West Coast diversions to East Coast ports, a recovering U.S. economy and import market share gains leading to all-time highs in cargo volume," Mr. Foltz told a crowd of more than 1,300. "The fact we were able to handle this influx of business without congestion has opened doors to long-term opportunities for Georgia. This new improvement plan will continue to keep Savannah's capacity ahead of demand."
In FY 2015, a record 3.66 million container TEUs crossed the docks at the Port of Savannah – a jump of 17 percent.
Between Savannah's Ocean Terminal and the Port of Brunswick, the GPA moved 714,008 units of autos and heavy machinery in FY15, also the highest volume ever. Thanks to new customers and growth in existing trade, automobile units increased by 29 percent at Ocean Terminal.
Total cargo across all terminals reached 31.7 million tons for the year, a 7.8 percent increase.
Effective, efficient port services are an important lure for new business," Mr. Foltz said. "In fact, port-related expansions announced during FY15 will bring more than $619 million in private investment and more than 2,770 new jobs to Georgia."
The growth came in the form of warehouse and distribution centers for major retailers and logistics providers for refrigerated cargo, as well as automotive and other manufacturing sites.
Mr. Foltz also detailed progress toward deepening the Savannah Harbor. Last month, a contractor began work on a $134.5 million contract to dredge the 18.5-mile outer harbor to 49 feet at mean low water.
Beyond the terminal gates, the Georgia Department of Transportation is set to complete the Jimmy Deloach Parkway extension in 2016. The project will provide a direct route between Garden City Terminal and Interstates 95 and 16, separating truck and commuter traffic, and cutting transit time for both.
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