Posted on March 31, 2025
The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) set a new record in February with 479,850 TEUs, marking a 6 per cent increase compared to the same month in 2024.
GPA President and CEO Griff Lynch credited the strong performance to the trust customers place in Savannah, stating: “This strong performance is a testament to the trust our customers place in the Port of Savannah as their gateway to the US Southeast.”
He also acknowledged the International Longshoremen’s Association and the U.S. Maritime Alliance for signing a six-year labour contract, which will provide long-term stability for the port and the broader economy.
February also saw a remarkable performance in the intermodal sector. The GPA’s intermodal team set a new record, completing 2,246 rail lifts in a 24-hour period on 28 February.
The Port of Savannah’s Mason Mega Rail Terminal, which handles six trains per day, is pivotal to the port’s ability to maintain efficient operations.
Additionally, the GPA achieved a new record for weekly truck gate moves, with 78,950 transactions processed at Garden City Terminal during the last week of February.
Ed McCarthy, GPA Chief Operating Officer, remarked on the port’s ability to maintain high service levels despite the volume increase: “We were able to accommodate the increased trade while maintaining excellent service for our motor carriers and customers.”
The port also achieved significant efficiency with dual container moves, which accounted for 85 per cent of its container business in February.
Further improvements are underway, with GPA introducing new start times for vessel operations to reduce idle time at berth.
Starting in May, the Port of Savannah will increase its vessel capacity by using a new lay berth at Ocean Terminal, reducing berth transition times by up to 75 per cent and allowing the port to handle approximately 100 additional vessels annually.
At the Port of Brunswick, RoRo trade saw a slight decrease, with 61,667 units of autos and heavy equipment moved, down 10 percent from the previous year. Despite this, the port continues to operate efficiently, handling 42 vessel calls in February.
From 1 July to 31 December of last year, GPA handled more than 2.8 million TEUs, an increase of 11.4 per cent or nearly 300,000 TEUs in the Port of Savannah.
