The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) announced on Thursday another good month, with imports up to nearly 500,000 container units in October, a ten percent increase and the third busiest on record for GPA. The inventory catch-up period of 2021 and 2022 still top the list when more than a half million container units went through the Port of Savannah.
“Despite the cargo increases this year, many customers continue to divert to the U.S. West Coast while the contract negotiations are ongoing,” said Georgia Ports President and CEO Griff Lynch. The contract negotiations will eventually be settled and, assuming the economic growth continues, perhaps this time next year James Magazine will be reporting the 2025 October as the most on record.
“Terminal velocity” (not in this case the fastest speed at which an object falls) – the speed at which a container arrives in port and is then loaded on to its next destination, is only one day for vessel to rail. The Mason Mega Rail facility connects with both Norfolk Southern and CSX.
“I want to thank our Georgia Ports employees, the local ILA, Gateway Terminals, the Pilots and all our port partners in Brunswick and Savannah for the great work they’re doing to keep our ports competitive and easy to use by our customers,” said Georgia Ports Chairman Kent Fountain.
This October was the busiest on record for the Appalachian Regional Port just outside Chatsworth in Murray County. It was also a busy month for the Roll-on/Roll-off cargo, Colonel’s Island handled nearly 70,000 vehicles such as auto and heavy machinery – also up 10 percent.
As previously reported, GPA received a grant from the EPA’s Clean Ports grant program to implement electrification infrastructure to enable ships in port to plug in to shore-based power and turn off diesel engines.
“Our goal is to build a foundation for the port sector to transition over time to fully zero-emissions operations,” said Acting Regional Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle. “EPA is positioning ports to serve as a catalyst for transformational change across the freight sector.”
Totaling some $46 million, the grant will also enable the replacement of diesel tractors in the port with electric tractors and charging infrastructure. Besides the environmental benefit of lowering diesel usage, the switching from diesel to electricity will also lower the noise pollution and help Georgia Ports Authority be a good neighbor to other residents right in the heart of Savannah.
“As a son of coastal Georgia, I know the importance of Georgia’s ports and its workers to our state and national economies. As we continue moving toward a clean energy economy, it is critical Georgia and its workers remain on the frontlines of these federal investments and reap the benefits of our hard work in Washington, which is why I was proud to champion this award for the Georgia Ports Authority,” said Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA).
