Savannah volume increases 2.8pc to 1,760,498 TEU in first seven months

THE Port of Savannah's container volume rose 2.8 per cent year on year in the first seven months of 2012 to 1,760,498 TEU, though throughput fell in July to 252,131 TEU from last year's July total of 262,723 TEU.

Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) executive director Curtis Foltz said the GPA experienced record cargo volumes in fiscal 2012 ending June 30 in an overall record total of 26.5 million tons across all terminals.

Mr Foltz said the increase at the ports has created increased landside investments expediting truck and train cargo movement.

"Major port-related announcements included 1,400 future jobs at the new Caterpillar plant in Athens, 900 jobs at Bed, Bath & Beyond's Pendergrass site and an 800-job expansion at the Big Tex trailer-building facility in Cordele."

Further expansion includes Lowe's US$125 million, 130,000-square-metre regional distribution centre in Rome, Georgia. The company will hire up to 600 employees by 2016. In addition, Mohawk Industries announced a 500-job expansion at its Summerville factory, recycling plastic containers into carpet fibres.

Overall break-bulk tonnage for the year totalled 2.53 million tons, a 15.6 per cent increase year on year.

Auto and machinery units handled at Colonel's Island Terminal in Brunswick, marking an increase of 19 per cent year on year. In the fiscal year to date, roll-on and roll-off volume reached all time high at all terminals at 569,984 units.

Breakbulk cargo saw 15.6 per cent growth compared to fiscal 2011 for an increase of 342,446 tons to 2.53 million tons.

There was an increase in occupancy rate at local distribution centres by 85.7 per cent compared to the previous year, out of a total four million square metres. It added five new shipping services, ending the year with the most weekly services to Asia of any port on the east coast. Total vessel calls reached a record 2,916 in the fiscal 2012.

The Savannah Harbour Expansion Project (SHEP) is on track after securing federal funding to deepen the river from its current 42 foot depth to as much as 48 feet with final approvals expected by November, said the GPA release.