GPA experiences growth in container volume and tonnage

Georgia Ports Authority's (GPA) Executive Director Doug J. Marchand announced today at its Board Meeting that the Indamex service, covering the Indian sub-continent and Eastern Mediterranean, would add a new call at Savannah beginning next month.

'We welcome the Indamex service to Savannah and look forward to working closely with the consortium of shipping lines and cargo owners that make up this excellent new opportunity,' said Marchand. 'Savannah is quickly becoming the port of choice for Suez services and currently participates in seven of the nine services transiting the Suez Canal to the United States East Coast, more than any other port in the South Atlantic and Gulf.'

With the addition of the Indamex, Savannah now provides service to all major Indian ports ' Nhava Sheva, Mundra and Chennai ' and will better fill that country's growing demand for export commodities such as fabrics, cotton, paper, paperboard and woodpulp. Imports such as rugs, sheets, towels, blankets and apparel will reach growing consumer markets such as Atlanta, Ga., Orlando, Fla., and Memphis, Tenn., with greater efficiency and savings.

In other news, GPA's Chief Operating Officer, Curtis J. Foltz, who will become the Authority's next Executive Director January 1, reported to the Board that the Authority handled more than 234,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit containers) for the month of October, a 1.7-percent increase compared with the same period last year. Additionally, container tonnage increased by 12.3 percent compared to the previous year and vessel calls to all terminals increased by 15.1 percent.

'The positive growth in containers represents the first monthly increase for the GPA in more than 12 months and we remain cautiously optimistic this may signal an improving economic condition in the months ahead,' said Foltz. 'The increase in container tonnage reflects our continued strength in export volumes. With the addition of new services like the Indamex, as well as record vessel calls, the GPA is well-positioned when the economy strengthens.'