New heavy equipment processor facility for Georgia Ports
NewsHeavy equipment producers moving cargo through the Georgia Ports Authority have a new Savannah-area processing and logistics services option.
GPA to add Ro-Ro capacity in Brunswick
The Port of Brunswick is expanding vehicle storage and processing by 50 acres at Colonel’s Island Terminal, with upgrades set for completion by summer 2025.
The Port of Brunswick will soon add 50 more acres of paved vehicle storage at Colonel’s Island Terminal. The infrastructure expansion will allow the Georgia Ports Authority to more efficiently accommodate increased trade crossing the docks at Colonel’s Island.
The expanded auto-processing capacity will go online in the summer of 2025. The project follows the recent addition of more than 120 acres.
The terminal improvements will be accompanied by US Army Corps of Engineers projects to improve Brunswick Harbor.
“The combination of space to grow, global and domestic reach, and quality of service make the Port of Brunswick the nation’s premier gateway for Ro-Ro trade,” said Georgia Ports Authority President and CEO Griff Lynch. “With the significant infrastructure investments we’re making at the nation’s largest auto port, GPA is prepared to handle future growth from new and existing customers. This move comes in response to auto manufacturers’ requests to expand their cargo volumes through Georgia.”
“Capacity enhancements approved by the board today will complement the US$262 million in auto storage and warehousing recently added at Colonel’s Island – as well as important federal projects planned for Brunswick Harbor,” said GPA Board Chairman Kent Fountain. “With more than 200 additional acres for expansion, no other Ro-Ro port in the nation can scale up its operation like Brunswick.”
Colonel’s Island Terminal handled more than 870,000 units of Ro-Ro cargo in FY 2024, which ended in June.
Harbour improvements
The Port of Brunswick will receive nearly US$ 38m in federal funding for maintenance dredging and harbour improvements in legislation passed by Congress 8 March 8 2024. Of that total, US$ 26.6m will go to return the federal waterway to its full authorised depth. Dredging work in Brunswick is expected to start in late 2024.
Another US$ 11.35m in federal dollars and US$ 6m in state funds have been allocated to the Corps’ Brunswick Harbor Improvements project, which will increase the safety and efficiency of vessel transit through the river channel. The harbour improvement plan includes an expanded area for vessels to pass each other, a bend widener and an expanded turning basin for ships docking at Colonel’s Island.
August trade
In addition to the infrastructure improvements in Brunswick, Lynch reported on August cargo volumes. Georgia Ports handled 74,630 units of Ro-Ro cargo in August, an increase of 21.4% or 13,175 units compared to the same month a year ago.
In the container business, the Port of Savannah handled more than 490,000 TEU, an increase of 18.6%. It was GPA’s second busiest August on record, after only 2022 when pandemic-related demand sent August volumes over 575,000 TEU. Lynch said last month’s increase is influenced by customers front-loading cargo ahead of the holiday peak season.
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