The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) noticed a major development in container volumes final yr.

On Monday, the authority reported that it achieved file container volumes in 2015, shifting an all-time excessive 3.73 million twenty-foot equal container models (TEUs) on the Port of Savannah. This exhibits an 11.7% enhance from a yr earlier.

The key drivers for this development embody a pointy demand within the U.S. Southeast and cargo diverted from the West Coast, based on GPA Executive Director Curtis Foltz mentioned.

Total tonnage throughout all terminals rose by 3.6% to a file 31.48 million tons in 2015. Container tonnage, which accounted for many of that development, added 991,031 tons for a complete of 25.81 million tons, whereas bulk cargo added 60,705 tons to succeed in 2.86 million. Breakbulk cargo jumped by 1.7% to 2.79 million tons.

At Monday’s assembly, the authority’s authorised the acquisition of 4 new ship-to-shore cranes for the Port of Savannah.  The port’s Garden City Terminal will add 4 new cranes in 2016 and 4 in 2018, to convey the full to 30 ship-to-shore cranes.

“With today’s decision, the Georgia Ports Authority will make a $47 million investment in order to maintain the highest level of service for port customers,” Foltz said.

The cranes will be capable of attain throughout vessels 22 containers broad and raise cargo weighing as much as 72 tons to a top of 152 toes above the dock. Each crane weighs 1,388 tons and measures 433 toes broad and 185 toes tall.

In addition, the GPA’s board authorised $8.2 million for section three of building of a brand new empty container depot.

GPA Board Chairman James Walters said: “Georgia’s deep-water ports achieved an outstanding year in 2015 with the hard work of our employees and partners in labor, shipping, trucking and rail. By adding a truck gate, container yard space, container handling equipment and ship-to-shore cranes, the GPA is maintaining capacity ahead of demand to ensure efficient cargo movement.”

Writing by Nadeem (c) gCaptain