The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) held its annual State of the Port event in Savannah on Tuesday and there was a lot to celebrate. The GPA processed nearly 5.6 million containers in 2024, up more than 600,000 from 2023. This made Savannah the fastest growing container port on the East and Gulf coasts. More than 1,700 elected officials and business leaders turned out to hear from port officials and the governor discuss the ports and the central role of logistics in Georgia’s economy.
“The impact of Georgia’s ports is felt in all 159 counties, as hardworking Georgians and the industries that employ them rely on these gateways to global commerce to reach markets around the world,” said Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. “I’m proud to know that the bulk of our exports are produced by small businesses, and the outstanding performance of the Georgia Ports Authority – along with its commitment to strategic investment and growth – are key reasons our state has been ranked No. 1 for business for 11 years in a row.”
The cooperation between the state government and the ports goes back decades but since former Governor Nathan Deal’s efforts at seeing the port deepening project through, the collaboration between the Gold Dome and the ports has been at a high level.
“All the accolades credited to Georgia Ports are the result of our amazing partnerships,” said GPA Board Chairman Kent Fountain. “It begins with Gov. Kemp and the state legislature, and it extends through our Georgia Ports employees, the local ILA, Gateway Terminals and all our port partners in Savannah and Brunswick. Their collaborative effort makes our ports the nation’s best operated and easiest to use for our customers’ global business.”
A just-in-time labor agreement helped to keep the ports running smoothly in 2024 and demand is outpacing the GPA’s forward-thinking investment. Georgia Ports President and CEO Griff Lynch announced a new lay berth – an area where a ship can be docked while not in active use – effective immediately. Another lay berth is opening in 2026 and the staging areas will help to decrease dock time at the Garden City Terminal down from 12 hours to 3 hours, a 75 percent improvement.
“Even in a challenging year, we still found a way to grow by 12.5 percent, and I think one conclusion we can draw here is that connectivity is key,” Lynch said, noting Savannah is one of the best globally connected ports in the U.S. “It’s been an incredible year, considering the headwinds of the difficulties surrounding the Suez Canal and the extended labor contract negotiations. Our congratulations go to the International Longshoremen’s Association and the U.S. Maritime Alliance for developing a six-year agreement with winners on both sides.”
