Port of Savannah Welcomes Largest Ship Yet

The Georgia Ports Authority welcomed the biggest ship ever to name on the Port of Savannah this week when the ZIM Tianjin docked at Garden City Terminal.

The ship measures 1,145 toes lengthy by 150 toes huge and may carry 10,000 TEUs. The vessel’s route originated in Qingdao, China, arriving on the U.S. East Coast by way of the Suez Canal.

“This 10,000-TEU vessel represents the future of U.S.-Asia shipping,” mentioned Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Curtis J. Foltz. “The Tianjin is another example of a growing trend in the ocean carrier business toward larger, more efficient vessels.”

During its time at dock, GPA crews will transfer greater than 2,000 containers on and off the ship.

“The port call by the ZIM Tianjin is another example of the strong and long standing professional relationship between GPA and ZIM,” mentioned ZIM Vice President Brian Black. “We are very excited to have the largest vessel call Savannah!”

Foltz mentioned ships within the Tianjin’s class present decrease price per container slot for cargo homeowners – lowering the expense of delivering items to prospects at dwelling and overseas. “The economy of scale achieved by Super Post-Panamax vessels is the reason we’re seeing more of them in Savannah, a trend that will only continue after an expanded Panama Canal opens in 2016.”

In order to higher accommodate Super Post-Panamax vessels, the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project will deepen the principle river channel to 47 toes at low tide (averaging 54 toes at excessive tide). This month, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a $134.5 million contract that may mark the beginning of dredging. The contract covers deepening the outer harbor, extending 18.5 miles into the Atlantic Ocean.

Dredging the outer harbor constitutes about half of the mission to deepen the 40-mile transport channel and harbor from deep ocean to Garden City.

Georgia has permitted $266 million in bonds to cowl the state’s projected share of building prices. As the $706 million growth strikes ahead, building funding will shift to federal {dollars}. Better accommodating bigger vessels such because the Tianjin will save U.S. corporations transferring items by Savannah 20 to 40 p.c on transportation.

The Tianjin’s subsequent cease is Kingston, Jamaica.