Portus recently acquired St. Johns Shipping, a longtime cargo operator at Port Everglades with a diverse customer mix including Frontier Liner Services, Interocean and Trinity Shipping Services.

“We are honored that Portus selected Port Everglades for its first expansion venture,” says Port Everglades Chief Executive & Port Director Steven Cernak. “Portus has a business model that is poised for growth and we are looking forward to being part of the company’s success.”

Chris May, Portus Vice President, will oversee the new entity as it is integrated into Portus. He says serving existing customers will be a priority as well as promoting the significant capabilities of Port Everglades to new customers.

“With this acquisition, Portus will continue to provide a viable stevedoring alternative in key markets that require a flexible, skilled and adaptive labor force,” May says. “Our goal is to grow our business niche commodities and Port Everglades has proven to provide strong opportunities.”

Portus Services LLC is a Diversified Port Holdings company owned by SteelRiver Infrastructure Fund North America LP.

Totals for all terminals hit 2.3 million tons, up 13 percent on the month. For the fiscal year, 4.52 million tons of cargo have crossed GPA docks, for an increase of 5.6 percent.

“The GPA’s growth despite a relatively flat economy reflects the level of efficiency and service our customers receive, which helps Georgia’s deepwater ports maintain existing business and expand our market share,” said GPA Executive Director Curtis Foltz.

The Port of Savannah marked an August increase of 10.4 percent in total tonnage, or 197,720 tons, for more than 2 million tons of cargo. That growth was led by a 9 percent increase in container tonnage at Garden City Terminal, and a 47.3 percent increase in breakbulk freight at Savannah’s Ocean Terminal, compared to August a year ago.

For the fiscal year to date, total tonnage at Port of Savannah terminals is 4.14 million, up 3.7 percent.

The count for last month’s twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) is up by 13.8 percent, or 32,819 TEUs, to reach a total of 270,610. This was the GPA’s second-highest month for TEUs ever, behind only October 2010. For FY2013, the increase is 4.4 percent, at 522,740 TEUs.

Besides containerized cargo, the GPA also grew its bulk and breakbulk business. At the Port of Brunswick’s East River docks, bulk cargo went from 49,402 tons in August of last year to 80,176 in the month just ended, for an increase of 62.3 percent. Year-over-year, East River moved 7.8 percent more cargo to reach 101,738 tons.

At Colonel’s Island in Brunswick, breakbulk cargo jumped 46.2 percent on the month to 108,585 tons. On the fiscal year, the rate of growth is 35 percent at 209,477 tons. Breakbulk at Brunswick’s Mayor’s Point nearly doubled to 10,380 tons.

Automobile and machinery units moved through Colonel’s Island and Ocean Terminal increased 45.7 percent on the month, totaling 57,113 units. This means August was also the second-highest month for roll-on / roll-off (Ro/Ro) units at the GPA, with the high mark set in April 2012.

“Heavy machinery customers such as JCB, Caterpillar and John Deere are experiencing healthy demand in markets such as Australia and the Middle East, while the more than 20 auto makers who use GPA services are doing brisk business in Europe,” Foltz said.

For the fiscal year, Ro/Ro units increased by 36.2 percent, reaching 111,726 units. Brunswick processed 98 percent of the GPA’s roll-on / roll-off cargo for August.

Total vessel calls reached 259 in August, 36 more than in August a year ago. The GPA set August records in total trucking gate moves (179,905) and in containers moved by rail (29,364). 

ITS closely co-operated with the Straddle Carrier manufacturer, Terex – Noell Mobile Systems, to ensure that G-POS would be delivered at the same time as the Straddle Carriers, ensuring a smooth and swift transition from site erection to operation.

G-POS is a Real Time Location System (RTLS) incorporating GPS technology. It is embedded unobtrusively into the container terminals container handling equipment and automatically keeps track of every piece of mobile equipment on site. G-POS automatically monitors the storage and retrieval locations for every container handled on the terminal. The MDHC implementation is based on the modular G-POS package including automated “Job Steps” requiring no operator input, integrated colour touch screens showing real time location, container move instruction and its target destination in either text or graphical formats. Other modules include a security and access control system to prevent Straddle Carrier unauthorised use, and the E-SMART equipment status visualisation package.

About ITS

Formed in 2002 by a management buyout, ITS celebrates its 10th year of operation in 2012. Working with the best known container terminals worldwide, ITS have an impressive list of completed projects and satisfied clients. ITS solutions include G-POS – a GPS system for tracking containers and handling equipment, E-SMART – an equipment status visualisation and KPI tool, and other optimisation, identification and security systems.

With a depth of experience in integrating RFID and GPS technologies into business applications, ITS can help customers explore and implement innovative new ways to use this technology to gain competitive advantage.

The contract with Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. is delivery of internal and external ramps for two car carriers under construction for an Israeli ship owner. The contract with Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd is delivery of internal and external ramps for two car carriers under construction for a Norwegian ship owner.Delivery of the equipment will take place during 2013.