b'26American Journal ofTransportation ajot.comGeorgia Port Authority expands(BOOMINGcontinued from page 22) already the worlds most populous coun-The Port of Savannah now offers ninetry with 1.5 billion residents. According to direct ocean carrier services to Vietnam,the World Bank, India is expected to out-inland rail network to global markets significantlyimprovingconnectivityandpace other Asian nations, with a projected The Georgia Port Authority (GPA) is expanding its inland railtransitreliabilitybetweenthetwomar- GDP growth of 6.5%. According to a GPA network by adding new facilities and enhancing service in itskets. This has helped encourage steadyrepresentative,thenewtradeagreement two-waycargoflowsinbothimportswill help US companies to diversify their active facilities. and exports, said a GPA representative.supplychains,withsourcingfromIndia Exports include forest products, food, andofferingacost-competitiveprocurement By Debra Phillips, AJOT cotton, as well as other US commoditiesstrategy. The top Indian imports to Savan-suchashardware,resin,andretailcon- nah are rugs, linens, machinery, appliances, TheGeorgiaPortAuthority(GPA)railyards traffic impact on residents. sumer goods. In addition to electronics, theminerals, and retail consumer goods.isexpandingitsinlandrailnetworkbyWe contributed $4.8 million to HallU.S. Imports include Vietnamese apparel,Georgia ports handled 22% of Indias adding new facilities and enhancing ser- Countyprojects,eliminatinganat-gradefootwear, furniture, and machinery. containerized trade on the US East Coast vice in its active facilities. Inland ports arecrossing, rerouting White Sulphur Road,Transit times from Vietnam to Savan- in 2025. Savannahs overall loaded con-becoming more widely available in statesand surfacing Cagle Road, said a GPAnah average 33 days, while transit timestainertradewithIndiagrewbynearly from New York to California. representative.ThenewWhiteSulphurbetweensomelocationsaresixdays48% between 2021 and 2025. There are The GPAs Network Georgia initiativeroute south of the inland terminal ensureslonger.In November 2025, a new servicenow six weekly services providing direct is establishing a series of inland ports aimedfreeaccessforemergencyvehiclesandwas launched, making Savannah its firstSavannah-India connections, with a total at shifting long-haul routes to rail, avoidingavoids traffic disruption from trains. Cagleport of call on the US East Coast. Geminiof10serviceslinkingSavannahtothe millions of truck miles through the state eachRoad resurfacing offers an improved alter- isanoperationalcollaborationbetweenbroaderIndiansubcontinent.Eleven year,saidaGPArepresentative.Thesenativeforresidents.Bothprojectswereshipping lines Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd,oceancarriersoperateontheseroutes, inland terminals offer more efficient alterna- completed in late summer 2025. originating from the Port of Haiphong indelivering transit times as short as 29 days. tives for supply chain management, expandWere excited to see the progress atVietnam. With a new rotation schedule,Direct services are also provided to Nhava Georgias rail network into additional mar- our new Gainesville facility, and what itGemini advertises transit times of 39 daysSheva/Mumbai, Pipavav, and Hazira, with kets, and alleviate pressure on the stateswill mean for the state of Georgia, saidfrom Haiphong to Savannah. additional ports of call to the Indian sub-road infrastructure. GPAPresidentandCEOGriffLynch.continent, including Colombo, Sri Lanka. The latest addition to the GPAs inlandHaving a rail connection in the regioni ndiaSg roWinge ConoMy haS The top Indian imports to Savannah are rail network is an inland port in Gainesville,willenhanceNortheastGeorgiaasant radeP otentiaL forg eorgia rugs, linens, machinery, appliances, min-Georgia, named the Blue Ridge Corridor. attractive location for businesses that relyIn February, a new trade agreementerals, and retail consumer goods. The top on global logistics. betweentheUSandIndiawassigned,US exports to India through the Savannah B Luer idgeC orridorW iLLB e Therailterminallinksdirectlytoproviding an avenue for increased busi- are forest products, resins and rubber, iron o PerationaLL atert hiSy ear the Port of Savannah, and companies innessbetweenthetwocountries.Theand steel, and automotive goods.The GPA is nearing completion of itsNortheast Georgia, from poultry produc- GPA welcomed this news, with its Pres- According to a GPA representative, $134millioninlandportinGainesville.ers to manufacturers of heavy equipmentident and CEO Griff Lynch, stating thatThe Port of Savannah offers faster tran-The facility will provide direct rail serviceandforestproducts.Theywillbeableit has the potential to provide benefits forsit times for Indian cargo going to markets between Northeast Georgia and Savannah.to participate in the global economy byAmericanexportersandconsumers.Hesuch as Atlanta, Memphis, and Nashville. The next steps include the GPA fully com- shipping goods to and from major inter- said,TheGPAhaslongthoughtIndiaAGPArepresentativenoted,Ocean missioning the terminals seven all-elec- national markets. will be the key to our future success withroutes are shorter to the US East Coast, tric rubber-tire gantry cranes (RTGs). TheBybringingglobalmarketaccessthe market proximity our US East Coastand Savannah delivers faster rail service. facilitywillprovidedirectrailserviceto the doorstep of local businesses, saidgatewayoffers.Intime,thiswillbringSavannahs speed to US rail providers is between Northeast Georgia and Savannah.aGPArepresentative,Weexpectthemore volume to Georgia ports. 22 hours. Cargo is discharged from ves-The GPA is working with communities ininland terminal in Gainesville to act as aIndiaissettobecometheworldssels on day one, placed on rail by day 2, NortheastGeorgiatominimizethenew(EXPANDScontinued on page 28) fourth-largesteconomyin2026andis(BOOMINGcontinued on page 28)Thank you GPA for what you do for the people ofGeorgia, the USA and the worldATLANTIC FUMIGATION SERVICESOffice Fax912-234-0266 912-234-1541USDA / CBP Compliant Import/Export FumigationsVacuums, Soil Contamination WPM ManipulationCleaning and Disinfecting IncinerationC. Mark Harper, President Christopher Harper, Vice PresidentCell: 912-224-2504 Cell: 912-547-2312Email: [email protected]@atlanticfumigationservices.com'