“The Port of Savannah continues to provide the best option for moving cargo with its single-terminal campus featuring two on-terminal intermodal container transfer facilities,” said Executive Director Curtis J Foltz. “As the Southeastern port of choice for retail distribution centers, Savannah offers efficient operations and cost savings to 44% of the US population.”
Container volume gains continued in January with 132,257 containers or 237,004 TEU, which yielded a fiscal year-to-date increase of 14.3% and 13.3% respectively. Container tonnage posted the third best month ever with 1,887,179 tonnes. More than 200 vessels called on the Port of Savannah in January 2011, which was an increase of 20% compared with January 2010.
“Savannah offers customer flexibility through service network diversity offering 43 weekly vessel calls, advanced technology, continued investment in infrastructure expansion and statewide legislative support,” said Foltz. “Garden City’s terminal provides one-stop access to cargo, along with immediate uncongested access to major east/west and north/south interstates.”
Break bulk tonnage for the ports of Savannah and Brunswick totaled 171,761 tonnes, which is an increase of 43% compared with January 2010. At the Port of Brunswick, auto and machinery units practically doubled compared with January 2010, moving 37,313 units in January 2011.
“Accommodating recent increases in volume without impacts on our world-class speed and efficiency levels is due to the hard working men and women on our terminal, but also to the strategic infrastructure upgrades,” said GPA Chairman of the Board Alec L Poitevint. “As larger vessels continue to call on the Port of Savannah, the increased global demand for trade through our ports necessitates the efficiency and additional capacity of a deeper harbor.”