b'2American Journal ofTransportation ajot.comGEORGIA PORTS 2025 Port of Brunswick, keeps rolling forwardPort of Brunswick, Georgia, is the nations busiest for autos, heavy equipment.By Debra Phillips, AJOT ThePortofBrunswick,Georgiacoastismorecost-Georgia, has become the nationseffective by rail than by truck.busiest port for autos and heavyPhase I of the new rail-equipment, handling more thanyard will increase the ports 2 million tons of Roll-on/Roll- annualrailcapacityfrom off(Ro/Ro)cargoin2024.approximately150,000autos AccordingtoUSATradeon- to more than 340,000 by mid-line,Brunswickwasalsothe2025.PhaseIIwillexpand top port in the nation for Ro/ theannualrailcapacityto Ro exports last year, handling590,000 units, which is greater 901,912unitsofautosandthanthreetimesthecurrent heavyequipmentlastyear.capacity.Autos are up 13.3% and heavySeparately,construction Four new ship-to-shore cranes pass by downtown Savannah enroute to Georgia Ports Authority.(Photo GPA) equipment is up 160%.onafourthRo/Roberthis in the planning stages and is Port of Savannah on the fast track i nfrastruCtureG rowth expectedtostartduringthe i nvestmentsD rive summer months of 2025. The Savannah, the fastest growing US port, continues to invest in capacity in 2025. The Georgia Port Author- newberthshouldbecom-ity completed $262 million inpletein2027,accordingto The Port of Savannah, Georgia, the fourth- largership-to-shorecranes,expandingcon- improvements at the Port ofaGPAspokesman,andwill largest port on the US East Coast, has earnedtainer yard space and yard crane fleets, andBrunswickin2024,addingmoreefficientlyaccommo-thedistinctionofbeingthefastest-growingexpanding truck gates. newwarehousingandpro- date vessels carrying 10,800+ portinthenationin2024. AtatimewhenTheGPAsinvestmentphilosophyiscessing space, as well as 122car equivalent units (CEUs.)political unrest in the Suez Canal resulted intomaintaincapacityat20%overcurrentacres of Ro/Ro cargo storage.One primary factor driv-numerous supply chain issues and labor strikesdemand, stated a Port of Savannah official.ConstructionhasstartedininggrowthatthePortof were looming, Savannah increased containerThe GPA has invested $4.2 billion in capac- anewrailyardonColonelsBrunswickistheincrease volumes by 12.5%. Officials from the Geor- ityenhancementsoverthenext10yearstoIsland,whileafourthberthinautoandheavyequip-gia Port Authority (GPA) attribute the growthexpand cargo handling capabilities to supportforRo/Rovesselsisinthementmanufacturinginthe tomakinginvestmentstoexpandcapacity,future supply chain requirements. engineering phase. GPAsservicearea.The addingconnectivitytomorelocations,andSufficient capacity helps address port con- ThisisanimportantU.S.Southeastalsohasthe building partnerships through communicationgestion and delays, two of the most commonmilestoneinourjourneytofastest-growingpopulation and responsiveness. In 2025, the port will con- supply chain challenges for companies import- be the best Ro/Ro port in theof any region in the country, tinue to focus on these strategies. ing or exporting goods via ocean carriers. Forindustry,saidGriffLynch,drivinganincreaseincon-many ports, the bottlenecks begin with oceanGeorgiaPortsPresidentandsumer demand.C apaCity carriers being held for days on the water beforeCEO.HesaidthataddedOur growth comes as auto The Georgia Port Authority, which gov- being allowed to enter the port. The availabil- capacitywillextendBruns- manufacturers seek to increase ernsSavannahandotherportsinthestate,ity of equipment and labor to unload containerswicksserviceareabecausebusinessthroughGeorgia, consistently invests in capacity. This includescan also add days to the process. Truckers canmoving cargo from farther-to- (ROLLINGcontinued on improvementstoberths,addingnewand(FASTcontinued on page 4) reachinlandfactoriestothepage 6)Your Just-In-Time turnkey facility in Savannah, GA! Trucking / Heavy Haul / OOG Drayage Warehousing / Rail / Import / Export Project Cargo / Crane / [email protected] / 912-201-0050 / 866-522-2200'