Georgia Ports Authority Celebrates 80 Years of Growth

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The Georgia Ports Authority at sunset, highlighting its expansion and growth.

News Summary

The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) marked its 80th anniversary at the 56th annual Georgia International Trade Conference, highlighting a remarkable 784% rise in container volume since 1995. Plans for a new lay berth at Ocean Terminal and significant investments to enhance capacity signal GPA’s commitment to future expansion. The Port of Savannah is rapidly becoming a key player in global logistics, supported by major capital projects and a focus on efficiency.

Savannah – The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) celebrated its 80th anniversary during its recent 56th annual Georgia International Trade Conference, highlighting significant growth and ambitious plans for future expansion. With over 400 attendees, including customers, business partners, and industry leaders, the conference showcased GPA’s impressive achievements over the past eight decades.

Since 1995, GPA has experienced a remarkable 784% increase in container volume, reaching 5.6 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units). This growth reflects the Authority’s commitment to strengthening its position as a key player in the logistics and shipping sectors.

During the conference, GPA announced the upcoming opening of a new 1,650-foot lay berth at Ocean Terminal in the Port of Savannah. Scheduled to become operational next month, this facility will allow vessels to dock before transferring to Garden City Terminal during peak traffic periods. Following this development, Ocean Terminal will transition to a 100% container facility as RoRo and bulk cargo operations will be relocated to the Port of Brunswick.

The enhancements at Ocean Terminal are part of a $1.6 billion capital improvement project financed through bonds secured in favorable market conditions from 2020 to 2022. GPA maintains a strong financial standing, holding the highest bond rating of any port in the Southeastern United States. This achievement reflects robust market confidence in GPA’s growth strategy and operational plans.

Currently, Ocean Terminal supports two container ship calls but will expand to a total of four ship calls per week effective May 1. The Port of Savannah is recognized as the fastest-growing port along the U.S. East and Gulf coasts, having reported record volumes in both February and March of 2024. On average, the port facilitates 32-33 ship calls weekly, resulting in the generation of 42 double-stack trains directed to inland markets, with an impressive average rail dwell time of just 22 hours.

Additionally, the Garden City Terminal handles between 14,000 and 16,000 truck gate movements daily, ensuring efficient cargo movement and achieving an average truck turn time of 35 minutes. To sustain this momentum, GPA is planning to invest an estimated $4.5 billion over the next decade to further expand its operations. This strategy includes increasing container terminal capacity to 7.5 million TEU by 2030 and up to 9 million TEU by 2035.

GPA has also laid out future enhancements for Savannah, which involve deepening the harbor by an additional 5 feet and raising the height of the Talmadge Bridge to facilitate the passage of larger vessels. These projects are set for completion in 2029.

The conference also examined potential shifts in global trade dynamics, including the impacts of proposed tariffs and evolving shipping routes between India and the United States. Moreover, GPA recently inaugurated a $200 million, 100-acre expansion of the Garden City Terminal West facility. This development adds capacity for up to 20,000 containers, aligning with market demand trends.

To further accommodate growth, the Port of Brunswick has introduced an additional 215 acres of land and storage facilities. Alongside these physical expansions, GPA reported record-breaking performance in its intermodal operations, highlighting improved cargo throughput and efficiency throughout its network.

As GPA moves forward into its next decade of operations, these expansion initiatives and growth metrics position it as a pivotal entity in the ever-evolving landscape of global trade and logistics.