As demand drops, Port of Savannah reports busiest month ever; how?

An overview of the Port of Savannah.

Savannah, Ga. – The Port of Savannah said it handled 494,107 containers in June, its busiest month on record. The number is up more than 47,000 containers from last June, a 10.6% increase.

“Despite the record volumes, the Port of Savannah remains fluid,” said Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Griff Lynch. “Several factors have contributed to our growing container capacity, including expedited infrastructure projects, our inland pop-up yards and an influx of truck drivers moving to the Southeast.”

The port credited some of its success to difficulties being seen at West Coast ports, including labor talks, protests and delayed rail access. Savannah is also receiving container trade diverted from the Port of Charleston.

“GPA is currently handling the highest volume of ad hoc and new service vessels the Port of Savannah has experienced to date,” said Lynch. “Uncertainty around the labor talks, unprecedented and unplanned vessel calls, record cargo volume, and vessel diversions to Savannah have contributed to a higher than normal number of vessels waiting at anchor.”

GPA said it is experiencing record truck turns during both its day and night-gate operations. Garden City Terminal saw a weekday average of 14,500 truck moves in June, counting both inbound and outbound gate exchanges.

To better accommodate rising demand, the GPA recruited 166 new workers in FY2022, for a total of 1,647 direct employees.

“I would like to thank our employees, as well as our partners at Gateway Terminals and the International Longshoremen’s Assn. for their outstanding work to keep commerce flowing across our docks,” Lynch said. “Through communication, collaboration and teamwork, we continue to provide unmatched service to our mutual customers.”

Looking forward, the GPA Board approved the purchase of 12 new rubber-tired gantry cranes and other container handling equipment at its regular July meeting. The RTG purchase totals $30.25 million. The Port of Savannah already features 198 RTGs, and another 24 were already on order. Tuesday’s action will bring the fleet to 234 in Savannah.

“Growing our workforce and infrastructure is part of the board’s continuing commitment to keep our deepwater terminals ready to take on new trade,” said GPA Board Chairman Joel Wooten. “Presently, we are expanding our dock space to handle additional big ships and increasing our container storage space in Savannah, while simultaneously enhancing our capabilities to move autos and breakbulk in Brunswick.”