Traffic through the Port of Savannah is already up – before the dredging project’s impact is felt.
The port moved 2.66 million twenty-foot equivalent container units during the fiscal year through March. That increase was 27.8 percent compared to the same month a year earlier, for an additional 72,499 twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEUs). For the first time ever, the Port of Savannah moved 333,058 TEUs in a single month, surpassing its previous monthly record set in October 2014 by more than 21,000 TEUs.
“We are moving record volumes while maintaining excellent service levels for our customers,” said GPA Executive Director Curtis Foltz. “Our March numbers have once again demonstrated the scale, flexibility and efficiency of the Garden City Terminal.”
“A 28 percent increase in container volume shows the level of trust cargo owners have in our efficient ports, and translates into jobs for Georgia and the U.S. Southeast,” said James Walters, GPA board chairman. “The ability to quickly move cargo to and from important inland markets via superior road and rail connections is a key reason Georgia is ranked the Number 1 state for business.”
The Georgia Ports Authority ended 2014 with growth in all cargo sectors, including a 10.2 percent increase in TEUs and a 7.4 percent increase in total tonnage. “Our deepwater ports are powerful economic engines for the state … and the nation,” said Gov. Nathan Deal. “GPA’s great performance is a testament to Georgia’s superior logistics network, starting with port terminals that have flawlessly taken on more business while still ensuring on-time, reliable delivery.”
The economic engine at the ports has a direct impact on Coweta County businesses and industries. Some local industries import raw materials that come through Brunswick or Savannah, and some ship finished goods through those ports.
“The deepening of the Savannah port means Coweta County’s agriculture and manufacturing will continue to be connected to markets around the world. The port currently supports 352,146 full and part-time jobs across Georgia, and 2,248 in Coweta County alone,” said U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, a Cowetan who represents the third Congressional District.
“The Savannah port deepening will also allow us to recruit more manufacturers to our region so we can bring in more stable and well-paying jobs for Georgians,” he added.
Proponents of the harbor deepening project have said that — without improvements — the Georgia ports risked being bypassed by larger ships that will be moving through the expanded Panama Canal.
“Investing in the deepening of Savannah Port will … prevent larger ships from being diverted to other ports, and keep Georgians ahead of the competition,” Westmoreland said.
