Georgia Ports Authority container volumes up 3 percent in October 2015
The Georgia Ports Authority handled a total of 321,094 Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEUs) containers in October 2015, an additional 9,335 units, or 3 percent increase over the same period last year. For the fiscal year to date (July-October), the GPA has moved 1.27 million TEUs, up 74,754 units, or 6.2 percent.
Also during the November meeting, the Authority approved $12.75 million in spending for a 63-acre expansion of the Port of Brunswick’s vehicle storage area. “The growing strength of the Southeastern U.S. market, combined with increased market share at Georgia’s deepwater ports, have required a steady increase in capacity in both Savannah and Brunswick,” said Jim Walters, GPA’s Chairman of the Board. “The action taken by the Board today will serve as a strong sales tool to prospective customers.”
Ongoing efforts to expand capacity at the Port of Savannah will bring the following projects online in 2016: a new truck gate, adding eight interchange lanes; four new ship-to-shore cranes (for a total of 26); 30 new rubber-tired gantry cranes (for a total of 146); and the Georgia Department of Transportation’s Jimmy Deloach Parkway that will provide a direct link between the port and Interstates 95 and 16.
Foltz also reported the GPA has been awarded a $990,000 EPA grant under the Diesel Emission Reduction Act. The money will go toward a truck rebate and finance program to help owner/operators purchase container hauling trucks with a 2010 or newer engine. The program is aimed at retiring older, less efficient diesel trucks in order to reduce emissions. GPA will also partner with a financing vendor to double the program’s capacity to $1.98 million.
Since 2001, GPA has achieved a 51 percent decrease in diesel use per TEU moved. By shifting from diesel to electric power for ship-to-shore cranes, refrigerated container racks and rubber-tired gantry cranes, the authority avoids the use of 5.8 million gallons of diesel annually.
