{"id":2557,"date":"2022-07-31T06:48:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-31T11:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awlcorp.com\/?p=2557"},"modified":"2023-05-11T18:55:31","modified_gmt":"2023-05-11T18:55:31","slug":"savannah-stays-on-pace-at-nearly-5-8m-teus-in-fy2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/awlcorp.com\/?p=2557","title":{"rendered":"Savannah stays on pace at nearly 5.8M TEUs in FY2022"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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The Georgia Ports Authority closed out Fiscal Year 2022 with its busiest June ever, handling 494,107 twenty-foot equivalent container units. GPA is handling the highest volume of ad hoc and new service vessels the Port of Savannah has experienced to date.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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GPA KEEPS CONTAINERS FLOWING AMID UNPRECEDENTED VOLUMES<\/h3>\n

SAVANNAH, Ga.,\u00a0<\/strong>July 26, 2022 \u2013\u00a0<\/strong>Fiscal Year 2022 was another record-breaker for the Georgia Ports Authority, with container volumes growing 8 percent for a total of 5.76 million twenty-foot equivalent container units.<\/p>\n

The Port of Savannah ended the year with a record June, handling 494,107 TEUs in total cargo, up 10.6 percent or 47,300 TEUs compared to the same month last year.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs the hub in a global network of road, rail and ocean carrier connections, our ports link Georgia businesses to international trade lanes and open doors to prosperity for our state and nation,\u201d said Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. \u201cThe Georgia Ports Authority and its partners in the logistics industry are powerful drivers for local economies across the Peach State, from small communities to our thriving urban centers.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to organic growth among its port customers, Savannah trade has also been boosted by West Coast labor talks and delayed access to rail at West Coast ports, prompting a significant shift in vessel calls. Savannah is also receiving container trade diverted from the Port of Charleston. GPA is currently handling the highest volume of ad hoc and new service vessels the Port of Savannah has experienced to date. Uncertainty around the labor talks, unprecedented and unplanned vessel calls, record cargo volume, and vessel diversions to Savannah have contributed to a higher than normal number of vessels waiting at anchor.<\/p>\n

\u201cDespite the record volumes, the Port of Savannah remains fluid,\u201d said GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch. \u201cSeveral factors have contributed to our growing container capacity, including expedited infrastructure projects, our inland pop-up yards and an influx of truck drivers moving to the Southeast.\u201d<\/p>\n

GPA is experiencing record truck turns during both its day and night-gate operations. Garden City Terminal saw a weekday average of 14,500 truck moves in June, counting both inbound and outbound gate exchanges.<\/p>\n

To better accommodate rising demand, the GPA recruited 166 new workers in FY2022, for a total of 1,647 direct employees.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would like to thank our employees, as well as our partners at Gateway Terminals and the International Longshoremen\u2019s Association for their outstanding work to keep commerce flowing across our docks,\u201d Lynch said. \u201cThrough communication, collaboration and teamwork, we continue to provide unmatched service to our mutual customers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking forward, the GPA Board approved the purchase of 12 new rubber-tired gantry cranes and other container handling equipment at its regular July meeting. The RTG purchase totals $30.25 million. The Port of Savannah already features 198 RTGs, and another 24 were already on order. Tuesday\u2019s action will bring the fleet to 234 in Savannah.<\/p>\n

\u201cGrowing our workforce and infrastructure is part of the Board\u2019s continuing commitment to keep our deepwater terminals ready to take on new trade,\u201d said GPA Board Chairman Joel Wooten. \u201cPresently, we are expanding our dock space to handle additional big ships and increasing our container storage space in Savannah, while simultaneously enhancing our capabilities to move autos and breakbulk in Brunswick.\u201d<\/p>\n

In FY2022, export loads accounted for 1.32 million TEUs for GPA, while import loads totaled 2.86 million. Top exports included forest products, kaolin clay and automotive cargo. Top import commodities included furniture, machinery and plastic goods.<\/p>\n

In addition to increased container trade, breakbulk tonnage also saw strong growth in FY2022, up 15.7 percent to more than 3 million tons. Mayor\u2019s Point Terminal in Brunswick turned in a particularly strong performance, with breakbulk forest products leaping from 52,244 tons in FY2021 to 252,000 tons in the fiscal year ended June 30.<\/p>\n

\u201cMuch of the increase in breakbulk cargo crossing GPA docks is related to the relatively lower cost of breakbulk movement compared to container rates in today\u2019s market,\u201d Lynch said.<\/p>\n

Georgia\u2019s deepwater ports and inland barge terminals support more than 496,700 jobs throughout the state annually and contribute $29 billion in income, $122 billion in revenue and $3.4 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia\u2019s economy.<\/em><\/p>\n

For more information, visit gaports.com, or contact GPA Chief Communications Officer Loretta Lepore at (912) 964-3855 or\u00a0<\/strong>llepore@gaports.com<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n