marine shipping

GEORGIA PORTS

Georgia’s ports serve as magnets for international trade. The Georgia Ports Authority accounts for more than 80,000 jobs across Georgia generating $1.8 billion in personal income annually. More than 1,700 Georgia businesses import and export their products through these ports.

“The outstanding performance of Georgia’s deepwater ports relative to other U.S. ports reflects the strong competitive advantages that allowed our ports to expand their share of activities even as the national economy declined… These advantages are largely the result of strategic investments in port facilities by the State of Georgia over many years.” – Jeff Humphreys- Terry College of Business, University of Georgia

Savannah Maritime Logistics Innovation Center (SMLIC) www.georgiainnovation.org In 2003, a new partnership was formed between the Georgia Ports Authority and three state universities – Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia Southern University and Armstrong Atlantic State University –to address maritime logistics and security issues, creating a think tank for best practices. The center is modeled after innovative efforts in Germany, Netherlands and Singapore and is the first relationship of its kind in the country. “All the technologies developed in SMLIC, both hardware and software, will be evaluated and potentially implemented by the Georgia Ports Authority. Research will focus on increasing security and productivity at the nation’s ports and all points of entry.” (News release, Georgia Institute of Technology, ATDC 8-18-2003)

Metro Atlanta’s connections to CSX and Norfolk Southern, regional and local railways offer shippers an exceptional intermodal transportation system combined with easy, overnight access to 19 deepwater ports of the North Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico.

Georgia’s ports – at Savannah and Brunswick – offer several advantages: the largest single-terminal facility on the U.S. East Coast (Port of Savannah), superior intermodal connections, port-owned and operated railroads, two Class 1 rail providers, three miles of on-dock rail and over 25 miles of onterminal rail. Consequently, shippers benefit from value-added services designed specifically to provide them a competitive edge in the marketplace.

The deepwater ports at Savannah and Brunswick are vital to Atlanta and Georgia’s growing international trade. In 2002 Georgia’s top five exports were transportation equipment, chemicals computer products, machinery and paper and allied products. Savannah continues to be among the fastest growing container ports in the nation and Brunswick among the fastest growing vehicle processing ports. Savannah continues to gain market share among East Coast ports and has reaffirmed its leadership position in the US-China trade. In fact, more than 60 percent of Savannah’s container volume is from China. Fiscal year 2003 marked the 16th consecutive year of growth for the
Georgia Ports Authority. Georgia Ports Authority statewide operations moved more than 15.3 million tons of cargo in FY 2003 an increase of 15.1 percent over the previous year while container tonnage grew by 27.3 percent.

PORT OF SAVANNAH – Fastest Growing Container Port on East & Gulf Coasts

Ranked among the top five container ports in the country and located on the Savannah River, the Port of Savannah is comprised of the Garden City Containerport Terminal (GCCT) and the Ocean Terminal. Both facilities have on-dock rail service and immediate access to I-16 and I-95. The GCCT is the largest container facility on the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts and continues to expand its operations. Container growth has been a key factor in the overall growth and success of Georgia ports. Since 2000, container tonnage at the Port of Savannah has increased by 56 percent.

The facilities in the Port of Savannah handled a record total of 13.8 million tons of containerized, breakbulk cargo during fiscal year 2004, a 9.4 percent increase from 2003 and a 45 percent increase from five years earlier. Forty-three steamship lines provide regularly scheduled service to destinations worldwide and moved a seven-teenth-year record volume of containers and breakbulk cargo in fiscal year 2004.

In addition to efforts to increase capacity, the Port of Savannah has made improvements in facilities and client relations. Equipment additions include a 40,000- square foot on-dock cold storage facility and new ship-to-shore container cranes. The Port has also established the first Client Relations Center.

PORT OF BRUNSWICK – One of America’s Top Auto Ports

Colonel’s Island Terminal in the Port of Brunswick offers shippers the North Atlantic’s most modern RO/RO and dry bulk facilities, and is expanding its bulk material handling capacity. U.S. Highway 17 bisects the island, putting it within minutes of Interstate 95, the East Coast’s major north/south corridor.

Automobiles and machinery handled via the Georgia Ports Authority in the Port of Brunswick during fiscal year 2003 was 25 percent greater than the previous year’s volume, handling product lines from virtually every major auto manufacturer. The 2.43 million tons handled reflects a 6.2 percent increase in tonnage from 1999. Forest product resources and movement of heavy machinery and automobiles contributed to this impressive growth. A $12.8 million expansion to the Autoport Facility at Colonel’s Island has increased the capacity for auto and machine shipment, allowing the Port of Brunswick to increase the total number of units handled by 25.2 percent since FY 2002.

Despite a national decline in breakbulk in recent years, breakbulk tonnage at Colonel’s Island increased by 30.5 percent from FY 2002 to FY 2003. The growth at these facilities can be attributed to the GPA’s success in attracting distribution centers to the area and the dedication of the public sector at all levels in supporting the expansion of Georgia ports.

Port Improvements

The Port of Savannah has responded to the rapid growth by initiating pavement upgrades and gate expansions and will continue its efforts to accommodate growth through the construction of new Container Berth 8. The new dock will increase the capacity at the Port of Savannah by 20 percent and will create 10,800 jobs. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has taken on two major improvement projects in order to increase capacity in Georgia’s ports. The Brunswick Harbor Deepening Project includes deepening the entrance and inner channels and constructing a new turning basin in the Upper East River. The Savannah Harbor Expansion Project will deepen the existing channel. Also, the GPA has been awarded Port Security Grants by the Department of Homeland Security to fund security enhancements at Georgia’s terminals.

For more information from the Georgia Ports Authority, call 800-342-8012, email this authority at info@gaports.com or visit www.gaports.com.