Port of Savannah Completes 60% of Renovation, Plans US$5 Billion Investment

Renovations at the Ocean Terminal of the Port of Savannah have surpassed 60% completion, according to the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA). The project, valued at US$1.6 billion, will expand the terminal's annual capacity from 200,000 to 1.75 million TEUs, and a 2,650-foot berth capable of handling large vessels has already been completed. GPA CEO Griff Lynch noted that the renovated terminal is ready to receive large ships.

GPA plans to invest close to US$5 billion over the next decade to expand its port capacity, including the construction of five new container berths in Savannah and an additional roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) berth at the Port of Brunswick.

The September 29 statement highlighted that rainfall has raised the level of Gatun Lake, the Panama Canal's main water source, leading the Panama Canal Authority to project that draft limits will return to the maximum of 50 feet by November. A day earlier, on September 28, the authority had added an extra transit slot for neopanamax vessels. Meanwhile, carriers such as Maersk and CMA CGM are resuming routes through the Suez Canal to Savannah, cutting transit time from India by 10 to 14 days.

The Port of Savannah handled 529,523 TEUs in August, with loaded exports totaling 117,242 TEUs, a 4.2% increase year-over-year, while imports reached 265,859 TEUs, up 1.5%. Georgia Ports President Kevin Price said demand for the port's services encourages them to expect a strong close to the year. At Brunswick, 60,572 auto units were handled in August, and heavy machinery cargo grew by 22%.

The Georgia Department of Transportation is conducting survey and inspection work on Savannah's Talmadge Bridge ahead of a cable replacement planned for later this year. The project will raise the bridge deck by up to 21 feet, with the bridge remaining open to traffic during the work, which is expected to be completed between 2029 and 2030.