{"id":640,"date":"2017-10-21T15:58:47","date_gmt":"2017-10-21T20:58:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awlcorp.com\/?p=640"},"modified":"2017-10-21T15:58:47","modified_gmt":"2017-10-21T20:58:47","slug":"brunswick-roro-capacity-50-percent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/awlcorp.com\/?p=640","title":{"rendered":"BRUNSWICK RO\/RO CAPACITY UP BY 50 PERCENT"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Brunswick<\/div>\n

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COLONEL\u2019S ISLAND FACILITY ON TRACK TO BECOME NATION\u2019S NO. 1 AUTO PORT<\/h2>\n

Wednesday, October 18, 2017<\/p>\n

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The Port of Brunswick now has an annual capacity of 800,000 vehicles. For information from Executive Director Griff Lynch\u2019s State of the Port presentation, click\u00a0here<\/a><\/b>. Find print quality images\u00a0<\/b>here<\/strong><\/a>. (Georgia Ports Authority\/Stephen B. Morton)<\/b><\/p>\n

Brunswick, Ga. \u2013 October 19, 2017 \u2013\u00a0<\/b>At the annual State of the Port address hosted by the Brunswick-Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce Thursday, Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Griff Lynch said the GPA increased auto processing capacity at Colonel\u2019s Island Terminal by 50 percent over the past 12 months, all of which has been absorbed by processors and manufacturers.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince last year, we\u2019ve been implementing an aggressive growth plan, enabling GPA and our auto processing partners to win new customers and capture greater market share,\u201d Lynch said.<\/p>\n

The Roll-on\/Roll-off terminal has expanded from 60,000 spaces in 2016 to 90,000 spaces today, for a total capacity of 800,000 cars per year. The additional space already has been absorbed by auto processors Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics, Mercedes and International Auto Processors. The three port customers have increased their operations by a total of 200 acres on the island\u2019s south side, bringing auto processing space to 600 acres.<\/p>\n

\u201cLast year, we told you we would be implementing an infrastructure investment philosophy we\u2019ve used at Savannah\u2019s container operation for years now,\u201d said GPA Board Chairman Jimmy Allgood. \u201cThat philosophy is to maintain capacity above current demand. Investing for the future has enabled the GPA to take on new customers and handle greater than expected container growth without congestion or capacity worries. We anticipate the same benefits for the auto trade here in Brunswick.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Plans call for further expansion that will allow the GPA to move, process and store some 1.4 million vehicles annually. In FY2017, the GPA handled 607,000 units of Ro\/Ro cargo in Brunswick.<\/p>\n

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\u201cGrowing our infrastructure will allow GPA to better serve the needs of auto processors and manufacturers as they rely more heavily on our terminal to meet customer demand,\u201d Lynch told Chamber members assembled at the Jekyll Island Convention Center. \u201cThis investment puts the Colonel\u2019s Island facility on track to become the nation\u2019s No. 1 auto port.\u201d<\/p>\n

While the Port of Brunswick is already the single largest auto port in the country, GPA\u2019s combined Ro\/Ro cargo for Savannah and Brunswick ranks as the nation\u2019s second-busiest operation. However, Georgia\u2019s deepwater auto ports have been adding volume faster than competitors. Over the past 10 years, GPA has led the nation with a growth rate of 8 percent \u2013 nearly four times the rate of the nearest competitor.<\/p>\n

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Lynch also informed the audience that U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintenance dredging is expected to bring the Brunswick River to full authorized channel depth of 36 feet in 2018. He said $10.3 million in federal funding for maintenance dredging from FY17 will roll over into the current fiscal year, while the Administration\u2019s proposed budget includes another $4.5 million for FY2018.<\/p>\n

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\u201cAs the vessels serving the Port of Brunswick grow larger, it becomes more important for this port to receive sufficient federal dollars to maintain the channel at its full authorized depth,\u201d Lynch said. \u201cWe are happy to report that the upward trend in harbor maintenance funding appears to be continuing into the current fiscal year.\u201d<\/p>\n

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In other news, Lynch reported that East River Terminal, operated by Logistec, handled a diverse mix of bulk commodities totaling 912,106 tons. Commodities such as perlite grew by 12 percent (14,700 tons) to reach 135,250 tons; animal feed grew by 7.7 percent (4,800 tons) to reach 66,725 tons; and salt grew by 44 percent (17,425 tons) to reach 56,670 tons.<\/p>\n

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East River\u2019s largest commodity, wood pellets, experienced a dip of 11.7 percent (61,000) tons for a total of 461,114 tons in FY17. However, wood pellets are projected to reach 600,000 tons in the current fiscal year, an increase of 30 percent.<\/p>\n

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Find print-quality images of port operations\u00a0<\/i>here<\/i><\/a>. Georgia\u2019s deepwater ports and inland barge terminals support more than 370,000 jobs throughout the state annually and contribute $20.4 billion in income, $84.1 billion in revenue and $2.3 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia\u2019s economy. The Port of Savannah handled 8.5 percent of U.S. containerized cargo volume and 10 percent of all U.S. containerized exports in FY2017.<\/i><\/p>\n

For more information, visit gaports.com, or contact GPA Senior Director of Corporate Communications Robert Morris at (912) 964-3855 or\u00a0<\/b>rmorris@gaports.com<\/b><\/a>.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n