Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) Executive Director Griff Lynch recently announced record cargo volumes, infrastructure developments and the addition of 1 million square feet of distribution space to Savannah in his annual State of the Port Address.
Lynch said the Port Authority was expanding on all fronts and that it is adding market share through organic growth and the addition of new accounts.
“Today’s announcements are the result of the strong collaboration of Georgia’s entire maritime community, including GPA, the International Longshoremen’s Association, stevedores, motor carriers, rail and third-party service providers,” Lynch said at last week’s Savannah State of the Port event.
Lynch outlined plans to accommodate growth and to expand into new markets including a $128 million mega-rail project, an expansion of the Savannah port’s crane fleet, construction of an inland rail yard in Chatsworth, capacity additions to the Garden City Terminal, and an expansion of the Savannah Harbor.
The event was also attended by Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal, who credited the Authority Board and the GPA as a whole for achieving 8.3 percent growth in total tonnage across all terminals during FY2017.
“Our ports’ outstanding FY17 performance highlights the value these assets bring to economic development throughout Georgia,” Deal said. “Growing capabilities in Savannah and Brunswick support the expansion of manufacturing and distribution, and the jobs these private developments provide for our citizens.”
In total, the Savannah port handled an estimated 3.85 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) while the Brunswick, Georgia, port moved approximately 607,000 auto and machinery units.
GPA Board Chairman Jimmy Allgood also announced the launch of two major e-commerce projects involving Noble House, a furniture supplier, and Best Choice, a home accessory company.
Specifically, Noble House will construct a 630,000-square foot facility that will serve the eastern United States while Best Choice will build a 345,000-square foot facility. Both projects are in addition to the 3 million square feet of distribution center space completed within the last year and the 5.2 million square feet of space currently under construction.