USA: Port of Savannah to Add Capacity for Future Growth

The Georgia Ports Authority Board approved $86.5 million to purchase four new ship-to-shore cranes and 20 new rubber-tired gantry cranes (RTGs) used to handle containers at Garden City Terminal.

“Our continued infrastructure investments enable us to work larger vessels and provide faster service to our customers,” said GPA Executive Director Curtis Foltz. “With this latest update to our crane fleet, the Port of Savannah will add capacity and opportunity for future growth.”

This latest order of new cranes is scheduled to arrive in February 2016, and will give GPA a total of 20 Super Post-Panamax cranes and nine Post-Panamax cranes, more than any other single, self-funded terminal in the U.S. The action today comes on the heels of eight additional ship-to-shore cranes purchased between 2009 and 2013.

Designed by Konecranes of Finland and assembled in Nantong, China, these enormous cranes can reach across vessels 22 containers wide to a height of 136 feet above the dock. The cranes operate over 9,700 feet of contiguous berth space.

The RTGs, which are employed to handle cargo in the container field, will arrive in periodic shipments over the next two years. All 20 cranes will have the capacity to convert to electric power as the GPA continues its effort to transition away from diesel fuel. The 20-crane purchase will bring the Port of Savannah’s RTG fleet to 136.

“An unparalleled fleet of 29 ship-to-shore cranes, when combined with the pending harbor deepening, on-terminal rail and direct access to Interstate 95 mean the Port of Savannah is truly the best option for conducting global trade with the Southeastern U.S.,” said GPA Board Chairman Robert Jepson.

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Press Release, May 19, 2014