“Not only did the ports authority achieve strong growth across major segments of our business, but the private sector responded with the lease or development of more than 1.1 million square feet of distribution center space,” said GPA Executive Director Curtis Foltz. “Of the added space, more than 300,000 square feet is dedicated to cold storage – strengthening Georgia’s position in the expanding cold chain logistics market.”

New customers contributing to the distribution center growth included Nordic Logistics, Gulf States Cold Storage, appliance maker Haier America, medical supplier Dukal, third-party logistics provider OHL, Kent Bicycle, Giumarra International Berry and Huffy Bicycles. In roll-on/roll-off cargo, GPA gains were thanks in part to new export business from Toyota and Nissan, as well import vehicles from Subaru.

In fiscal year 2013, the GPA achieved a record 27 million total tons, an increase of 651,250 tons or 2.4 percent. In addition, the GPA handled 637,000 auto and machinery units, an increase of 11.7 percent; 2.5 million tons of bulk cargo, up 62 percent; and more than 315,000 intermodal containers, another record for the authority. Foltz said the total tonnage growth was thanks to the GPA’s varied cargo mix, including the container trade, agribulk, and breakbulk cargos such as forest products, and autos and machinery.

“Pro-business policies, coupled with our outstanding workforce and logistics advantages make Georgia the right choice for new and expanding port customers,” said Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal. “We’re making the smart investments necessary to ensure the fast, efficient flow of cargo.”

Foltz detailed an ambitious capital improvement plan, including $186 million allocated to capital improvement across fiscal years 2013 and 2014. “Savannah’s role as the gateway to commerce for the Southeast requires the port to stay on the cutting edge of infrastructure, equipment and technology,” he said.

Major improvements include the addition of four super post-Panamax ship-to-shore cranes.

Other improvements include:
·        twenty new rubber-tired gantry cranes,
·        twenty new 24-slot refrigerated container racks,
·        upgrades to mooring bollards in order to serve larger ships,
·        and, a 500-ton heavy lift barge crane.

“The state of Georgia and the ports authority are working to ensure that our world-class facilities continue to keep cargo moving at peak efficiency,” said GPA Board Chairman Robert Jepson.

Speaking four days before the Sept. 16 visit by Vice President Joe Biden, Foltz provided an update on SHEP progress to a capacity crowd of more than 1,200.

In FY2013, the GPA received final approval for its harbor deepening, which will allow the Port of Savannah to more efficiently serve Post-Panamax vessels and lower shipping costs for containerized trade by $213 million a year. The U.S. Army’s Record of Decision found the project to deepen the river from 42 to 47 feet is economically feasible and environmentally sound. Also in the past year, Georgia completed a successful mediation with South Carolina environmental interests, and allocated another $50 million to construction. The state has thus far dedicated $231 million to the harbor expansion.

“The final step before dredging can begin is for Congress to update the approved expenditure to the current estimate of $652 million,” Foltz said. “We’re looking forward to this final action by Congress to allow construction to move forward.”

“Through these 25 years, we have worked very hard and invested heavily to raise levels of efficiency in every aspect of our operation and administration, “says Christian R. Gonzalez, ICTSI Asian Region Head.

“We’ve invested non-stop in port structure, top of the line equipment, leading edge technology, and manpower development to ensure that the MICT stays on top of the heap.  I’d like to think that we’ve done our homework well because the MICT today is a truly world class terminal at par, even above par with the world’s top ports,” he continues.

Gonzalez looks back on the early years of MICT, its growth years, peaks and troughs, and where it is today.    

Back in 1988, the dust had barely settled after the People Power revolution.  The Philippines was rebuilding a democracy, reforming institutions, and re-crafting the nation’s charter. 

The privatization of the MICT was not only the pilot project of the Philippine Ports Authority.  It was, in fact, the pilot privatization project of the Cory Aquino Administration that would become the benchmark for succeeding government privatization projects for power generation and distribution, water distribution, tollways, transport licensing, to name a few.  The MICT was privatized under a build-operate-transfer scheme. 

ICTSI was established in 1987, initially for the purpose of bidding for the 25+25 MICT concession.  Says Enrique K. Razon Jr., ICTSI chair and president:  “When we established this company, we saw a pioneering opportunity.  The new administration was experimenting on economic policies and ways to raise money for a bankrupt treasury, and privatization was one of the roads they decided to take to generate funds through the sale of government owned or controlled assets.” 

ICTSI eventually bested other international and local bidders to win the concession in May 1988.  After taking over the MICT in June of the same year, ICTSI quickly buckled down to re-develop the terminal.  Then, the MICT was an underdeveloped terminal with two dilapidated quay cranes projected to have a fully developed annual capacity of 450,000 TEUs.

The MICT’s double digit volume growth since 1989 was disrupted only as a result of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis.  Stringent housekeeping and financial prudence through kept the MICT above water until the global economy, including that of the Philippines’, began to see signs of recovery. 

“With the Philippine economy growing at a record phase of 7.5 percent as of the second quarter, the MICT is more than ready to handle the country’s growing trade.  From the beginning and until now, we continue to take this role seriously, and we will continue the hard work to continually improve,” concludes Gonzalez. 

A quarter of a century later, the MICT has an annual capacity of 2.5 million TEUs, the country’s largest.  It has added two berths to have the country’s longest quay line, and is mulling construction of another one.  It has the largest and most cargo handling equipment fleet, modern and way ahead of the handling trends.  Operations and administration are completely automated and synced.  And the MICT is ICTSI’s flagship, and benchmark for its other 26 terminals abroad.

As Razon said during ICTSI’s anniversary:  “We do not merely look forward.  We look far ahead.  From one port in 1988, to 27 ports in 2013, and to 100 ports in the next 25 years.”

The event was attended by over one hundred guests including the Rt Hon David Jones MP, Secretary of State for Wales; Stephen Hammond MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport; Admiral the Rt Hon Lord West of Spithead GCB DSC, former Head of the Royal Navy; and His Excellency Thambynathan Jasudasen, the High Commissioner of Singapore.

Guests joined ABP in marking a milestone anniversary for its Port of Southampton with entertainment by the acclaimed sea shanty singers, The Roaring Trowmen. ABP Chief Executive James Cooper also announced the findings of the group’s recent economic impact study, showing that in 2012 ABP contributed £5.6 billion to the UK economy and supported 84,000 jobs. The study, undertaken by Arup, also demonstrates that ABP’s current planned investment of £450 million promises an extra £1.6 billion for the economy in the years ahead.  

Mr Cooper said: “ABP was delighted to welcome so many distinguished guests to mark London International Shipping Week and celebrate the 175th anniversary of the Port of Southampton.

“The success of our event demonstrates the strong support for an initiative to promote the UK port and maritime sector, recognising its essential contribution to our economy. 

“The excellent turnout was also of course a tribute to the Port of Southampton’s ongoing success as a leading international gateway. For example, a recent independent study by the Journal of Commerce has found that Southampton is the most efficient container port in Europe.

Photo:  (Left to right) His Excellency Thambynathan Jasudasen, the High Commissioner for Singapore; Stephen Hammond MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport; and James Cooper, ABP Chief Executive

In doing so, it will foster greater competition in the domestic Turkish port sector. In addition, the ability to handle larger container ships at the port will reduce handling costs and increase the competitiveness of regional trans-shipment terminal services for container cargo destined for Black Sea ports.

The project is estimated to costs USD 413 million and Aysaport, a company partly owned by members of the Turkish Soyuer family and for 70% owned by Global Terminal Ltd, which itself is owned by Terminal Investment Ltd SA, the terminal operating subsidiary of Mediterranean Shipping Company, the world’s second largest shipping company, has asked the EBRD for a loan of up to USD 75 million.

The project will promote growth in containerisation and development of logistics services in Turkey and the Black Sea region. It will also further drive development of trans-shipment activities in the region by becoming the last port of call before the Bosphorus for today’s mega-vessels.

The port’s management will be required to obtain ISO certification, relating among others to environmental and energy management. The port will also introduce new energy efficient technologies in line with best international practice. These will include the use of electric rubber-tyred gantry (“E-RTG”) cranes, while traditional terminals still run diesel driven RTGs.