Port of Savannah smashes cargo records in 2021

The Port of Savannah has moved a record amount of cargo in 2021, seeing containers up 20 per cent when compared to the previous year.

Overall, the port processed a total of 5.6 million TEU for the year.

The port experienced 12 consecutive months of record container growth for 2021. In December, operatives processed a record amount of 465,000 TEU, alongside an all-time-high of 312,000 truck gate moves.

“While Georgia’s maritime logistics community has been tested by a challenging year, I am proud of our port’s achievements to keep cargo flowing, support jobs and industry across the region and the world, and to serve customers in every corner of the state,” said Georgia Governor Brian Kemp.

“The Georgia Ports Authority not only powers economic success in the Peach State, but it has also served as an example to the nation in solving the supply chain crisis.”

In regard to rail, Savannah grew by 10 per cent in 2021, topping 580,000 container lifts, or nearly one million TEU. This was no doubt supported by the recent addition of nine working tracks in November, expanding the Port of Savannah’s rail lift capacity to 2 million TEU per year – an increase of 30 per cent.

David Griff Lynch, Executive Director of the GPA, added: “Our expanded rail and yard capacity, along with new operational practices, allowed GPA to overcome serious headwinds in the international supply chain.

“The team – including our GPA employees, the International Longshoremen’s Association, stevedores, shipping lines, motor carriers and rail – came together to handle an unprecedented level of business last year.”

In 2021 the GPA also expedited the purchase of new equipment, completion of new capacity on terminal and hiring to accommodate the increased demand for services. In total, the GPA added four rail-mounted gantry cranes, 10 rubber-tyred gantry cranes, 145 employees and an annual yard capacity of 400,000 TEU.

Joel Wooten, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the GPA, also commented: “Together, we are delivering on a promise of world-class customer service. With the expected capacity projects that are already coming online, our customers can have confidence in our ability to grow along with their businesses.”

Further expansion is expected in 2022 as the ports authority is set to add 500,000 TEU of annual capacity in March, growing to a total of 1.6 million TEU by June, a 25 per cent increase in Savannah’s previous capacity for container trade.

German shipping line Hapag-Lloyd has recently announced that the Port of Savannah is once again part of its Atlantic Loop 3 service.

The port was previously omitted from the service to avoid delays and to maintain schedule integrity. To ensure this it was replaced with the Port of Jacksonville (JAXPORT).

https://www.porttechnology.org/news/port-of-savannah-smashes-cargo-records-in-2021/