Containers manufactured by Savannah Company witnessed a financially successful fiscal year, marking the best period since the onset of the pandemic.
Georgia Ports Authority Sees Record Growth and Major Expansion
The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) is experiencing a surge in growth, handling a record 5.7 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in fiscal year 2025, an 8.6% increase over the previous year [1]. This growth is particularly evident at the Port of Savannah, which achieved its second-busiest year on record [2].
Notable infrastructure projects underway include:
- Expansion of the Colonels Island Berth 4 in Brunswick, scheduled to open in 2027, with a $100 million investment [2]. This new berth is expected to ensure future capacity keeps pace with demand.
- The redevelopment of Savannah’s Ocean Terminal is another significant project, aiming to add 1.5 million TEUs of annual capacity and featuring a new overpass linking the terminal to Route 17 to divert truck traffic from local neighborhoods [2].
- A broader $4.5 billion expansion program encompasses hundreds of thousands of square feet of new warehousing and distribution space. For instance, a recent project added 650,000 square feet of warehouse facilities at the Port of Brunswick to support container handling and automotive cargo operations [4].
These expansions are in line with the e-commerce boom, which has driven increased inbound container volumes at major U.S. ports, despite tariffs and shifting global trade patterns [1][2].
Savannah's volume grew at a 4.5% compound annual growth rate for fiscal year-to-date compared to 2016 [1]. To accommodate this growth, the Garden City Terminal Warehouse is being expanded to streamline Customs inspections by doubling warehouse space and expanding refrigerated cargo capabilities [1].
In Brunswick, the GPA is adding a fourth berth for ro/ro cargo, Colonels Island Berth 4, to meet growing demand [1]. The Colonels Island Southside Rail Phase 1 project will double rail capacity from five to 10 trains per week, increasing the port's annual rail capacity for autos from 150,000 to more than 340,000 [1]. A Roll-on/Roll-off expansion has also added 640,000 square feet of warehousing in support of processing autos and heavy equipment, and 122 acres of ro/ro storage [1].
The Port of Brunswick handled 870,775 units of autos and heavy equipment in FY2025, the same as in the record 2024 fiscal year [1]. Griff Lynch, president and chief executive of Georgia Ports, stated that the authority is growing U.S. East Coast market share [2].
Over the next ten years, GPA plans to invest another $4.5 billion in capacity improvements, including five big ship berths in the next eight years [2]. Eight new ship-to-shore cranes, the largest on the U.S. East Coast, are being added at the port [2].
The GPA has invested heavily in infrastructure over the past decade, completing $3.2 billion in projects [3]. The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, marked the Port of Savannah's second-busiest year on record [2]. With these expansions and investments, the Georgia Ports Authority is poised to strengthen its role as a leading U.S. seaport hub, particularly on the East Coast [2][4].
The expansion of the Colonels Island Berth 4 in Brunswick, scheduled to open in 2027, signals an investment in future capacity to keep up with the growing demand in sports such as automotive cargo operations. The redevelopment of Savannah’s Ocean Terminal aims to provide an annual capacity of 1.5 million TEUs, which would undoubtedly boost the handling of sports goods like containers.
