Atlanta's government and business leaders are pushing for the deepening of Savannah's port. The push comes after a panel discussion in which participants discussed the Savannah Habor Expansion Project (SHEP), which would see the deepening of Savannah's port in order to service the next generation of large container ships.
“Georgia’s ports are a vital economic engine,” said Alec Poitevint Board Chairman of the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA). “The interests represented here today have sent a strong message – that the deepening of the Savannah Harbor is essential to the health of our state’s economy.”
According to the GPA, the Port of Savannah is the fastest growing and fourth largest port in the US, and is responsible for moving more than 8.3% of the nation's containerised cargo volume.
In preparation for the Panama Canal expansion in 2014, which will see more traffic moving along the canal, and the service of larger ships, GPA says it plans to develop its port in order to keep up with other ports in the US East and Gulf Coasts which are already servicing large container vessels.
The GPA further added that they are working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deepen the river from its current 42 foot depth, to as much as 48 feet, in order to handle larger vessels more efficiently.
Construction funds for SHEP has cost $105 million to date, with approximately $40 million spent on environmental work, helping to ensure that environmental impacts associated with the project are avoided, reduced, or mitigated.
“Georgia’s ports are a vital economic engine,” said Alec Poitevint Board Chairman of the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA). “The interests represented here today have sent a strong message – that the deepening of the Savannah Harbor is essential to the health of our state’s economy.”
According to the GPA, the Port of Savannah is the fastest growing and fourth largest port in the US, and is responsible for moving more than 8.3% of the nation's containerised cargo volume.
In preparation for the Panama Canal expansion in 2014, which will see more traffic moving along the canal, and the service of larger ships, GPA says it plans to develop its port in order to keep up with other ports in the US East and Gulf Coasts which are already servicing large container vessels.
The GPA further added that they are working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deepen the river from its current 42 foot depth, to as much as 48 feet, in order to handle larger vessels more efficiently.
Construction funds for SHEP has cost $105 million to date, with approximately $40 million spent on environmental work, helping to ensure that environmental impacts associated with the project are avoided, reduced, or mitigated.