Archives



Freight News, Sea


Ro ro record for Georgia ports

[ July 25, 2023   //   ]

Georgia Ports Authority handled record ro ro volumes in the 2023 fiscal year, at more than 723,500 units, an increase of 18% over the previous year.

GPA’s port of Brunswick achieved strong growth in the import and export of heavy machinery, while auto manufacturers’ improved microchip supply also meant an increase in vehicles,” said GPA president and chief executive, Griff Lynch. “

Ro ro imports were up by 99,000 units year-over-year, or 24%, while exports increased 11,500 units, or more than 7%. GPA added Nissan as a Brunswick customer with its Colonel’s Island Terminal now handling the manufacturer’s imports from Japan and Mexico.

According to the most recent PIERS data, the Port of Savannah meanwhile achieved 11.2% market share in container trade among US ports on the East, West and Gulf coasts in the 12 months to April, its highest share ever.

“This continues a trend stemming from the U.S. Southeast’s fast-growing population, increased domestic production and a shift in overseas manufacturing toward India and Southeast Asia, favouring delivery via Savannah,” Lynch said.

A total of 5.4 million teu crossed GPA docks in FY2023, down 6.7% compared to FY2022, GPA’s all-time high. However, compared to pre-pandemic volumes of 4.5 million teu in FY2019, traffic increased 20% and compound annual growth rate since FY2019 is 4.7% per year.

The inland Appalachian Regional Port meanwhile handled its highest volumes ever, at 33,700 rail lifts, an increase of more than 18% or 5,200 containers.

To prepare for future demand, GPA is investing $1.9 billion in infrastructure projects including renovations to Berth 1 at Garden City Terminal, increasing berth capacity there by 25%. An improved Berth 1 reopened to vessel service on 20 July, providing faster turn times for ocean carriers.

A new transload facility will deliver greater speed and flexibility for customers in cargo handling, while the Garden City West development adds 100 acres of long-term storage available at lower cost than in the regular container yard.

Upgrades now under construction at the Port of Brunswick include 640,000 square feet of new processing space and 122 acres of additional auto storage. The new acreage will increase ro ro capacity from 1.2 million to 1.4 million vehicles per year. Two near-dock warehouses and three buildings on the south side of Colonel’s Island start were due to come online in August. GPA has also won federal approval to construct a fourth ro ro berth at Colonel’s Island to better accommodate carriers in the 7,000-vehicle class.

Tags: