Port of Savannah Accelerates Supply Chain Solutions As Record-Breaking Streak Continues

After handling 495,750 TEUs during November, the Port of Savannah surpassed its total 2020 capacity while setting a new monthly record. Although the seaport has been on a blistering container pace, proactive measures implemented by Georgia Ports Authority officials and private sector organizations have largely averted bottlenecks.

“I would like to acknowledge the incredible teamwork on and off our terminals that have made these results possible,” Georgia Ports Authority executive director Griff Lynch reportedly said. “Our employees along with Savannah’s stevedores, ILA members, truckers, river captains, and many other transportation professionals have pulled together to handle record cargo volumes for an incredible 16 consecutive months.”

A surge in imports caused staggering West Coast logjams at the Port of Long Beach and Port of Los Angeles. The record number of cargo ships idling off the coast has been estimated as high as 110. In recent weeks, storm concerns prompted upwards of 80 to move away from eyeshot, and many are anchored as far south as San Diego. The Port of Savannah was taken somewhat by surprise a few months ago. However, business and port leaders came together to rethink container offloading, storage, and transportation efficiencies. Those decisive actions may have averted the stifling supply chain disruptions experienced in California.

“Off terminal, the willingness of our customers, two class one railroads and stakeholders in state and federal government, have allowed us to put into place innovative and effective supply chain solutions,” Lynch reportedly said.

In under six months, the Georgia Ports Authority is fully engaged in rolling out an “ambitious series of improvements.” The plan of action is expected to increase port capacity by upwards of 25 percent, and that level of thought leadership will likely account for heightened growth. The ports authority already expedited its Berth 1 project, which expands ship-to-shore crane operations and adds 1 million TEU capacity. The major upgrade has reportedly exceeded 30-percent completion and is expected to come online in 2023.

Other advancements include opening 670,000 TEU of increased capacity at the Garden City Terminal in January 2022 to offset rising demand. By March 2022, another 155,000 TEU terminal capacity is expected to be available, followed by 850,000 in June 2022. Ports authority officials also anticipate a stop-gap measure to handle an additional 200,000 TEUs by year’s end.

“Through the cooperation of our customers and the innovative thinking of our operations team, we’ve trimmed the number of boxes on terminal to allow for more efficient container handling and faster vessel service,” Georgia Ports Authority board chairman Joel Wooten reportedly said. “Additionally, crews are working every day to build the new container yard and dock space that will keep commerce flowing.”

California ports implemented container fines at the behest of the White House. The penalties are reportedly being passed along to consumers, and retailers are renting vacant lots inland to pile up empty containers. Other measures, such as 24-7 hours of operation, have also largely proven fruitless. By contrast, Savannah ranks as the country’s fourth-largest container port and appears poised to manage increased demand for years to come.

Sources: freightwaves.com, porttechnology.com