Additional personnel and more than $100 million in infrastructure improvements planned Doug J. Marchand, Executive Director of the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), released tonnage and volume reports during a meeting of its board of directors today reflecting a very strong start to fiscal year 2008. 'In August we experienced total tonnage growth of 26.9%, or 2.1 million tons,' said Marchand. 'This exceptional performance followed an equally strong 26.7% gain for July, or a total increase of 910,000 tons for the first two months of the fiscal year for Savannah and Brunswick.' Port of Savannah handled 236,020 Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit containers (teus) for August, a 30.1% increase and a combined 467,711 teus for the first two months of the fiscal year. The Authority reported 28.5% increase in teus for the fiscal year to date. 'I would like to thank the dedicated men and women of the GPA and throughout the Georgia maritime industry for their commitment and hard work as we move into peak season,' said Marchand. 'Additional personnel, police officers and equipment have been added to the yard operation to stay ahead of the pace of growth." Marchand said the Authority would bring an additional 14 Rubber Tire Gantry Cranes on-line in FY08, four ship-to-shore cranes in early 2008 and by late 2009 another four cranes at the Garden City Terminal. In addition, Marchand said the $100 plus million capital improvement plan for FY08 includes considerable infrastructure improvements, new technology upgrades and $12 million to complete Phase 1 of the Chatham Yard ICTF. Other developments:
  • The Authority reported 23.3% growth in bulk cargo for August and a 44% increase, or 143,376 additional tons in the first two months of the fiscal year. The total gain in bulk cargo was the result of strong volumes of bio-diesel products and sand in Savannah, gypsum, perlite and urea at Marine Port Terminal in Brunswick and barley, malt and peanut hulls at Colonel's Island.
  • The Authority approved $3.85 million in funding to provide utilities and roadway access on the South Side of Colonel's Island to support further expansion.
  • The Authority approved $2 million for the initial engineering and environmental services necessary to expedite the completion of the Jimmy DeLoach Connector, a direct truck corridor into Savannah's Garden City Terminal.