Port of Savannah Posts 20-Percent TEU Increase for 2010

Savannah, Ga. – Georgia Ports Authority’s (GPA) Executive Director Curtis J. Foltz announced today the Port of Savannah experienced nearly 20-percent growth in twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) for calendar year 2010 with 2,826,308 TEUs, a record for the Authority.

“Consumer spending remained strong during December and marked the end of an exceptional calendar year,” said Foltz. “The impressive monthly total was significant considering the pronounced peak season and last year’s efforts to replenish depleted inventory stocks. Our volume growth in the balance of FY2011 will depend on the ability of the economic recovery to outpace the levels experienced during the first half of 2010.”

For the first time, the Port of Savannah’s volume exceeded 2.8 million TEUs in 2010. Strong export volume outpaced imports with a record 1,488,670 TEU exports, which comprised 52.8 percent of Savannah’s total throughput. Moving approximately 1,000 loads of frozen poultry each week, the Port of Savannah handles more containerized poultry than any other port in the nation and the most refrigerated containerized exports on the U.S. East Coast.

“As a beacon for the state's commitment to economic expansion, our ports provide a foundation for our economy that guides new opportunities to Georgia and the Southeast,” said Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal. “We are poised to strengthen our global leadership position thanks to the deepwater ports in Savannah and Brunswick.”

The Port of Brunswick continued to post double-digit increases in auto/machinery units with 40,537 units for December 2010, which represents a 21.5-percent increase compared with December 2009 and ends the first half of the fiscal year with an overall increase of 52.2 percent.

“Record volume for the Port of Savannah represents a vital economic engine for the Southeast and reflects the global demand for Georgia-based exports,” said GPA Chairman of the Board Alec L. Poitevint. “Throughout the year, Savannah retained its position as the fourth largest and fastest growing major container port, while strengthening its importance to the national logistics and transportation system.

Georgia’s deepwater ports and inland barge terminals support more than 295,000 jobs throughout the state annually and contribute $15.5 billion in income, $61.7 billion in revenue and $2.6 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia’s economy. The Port of Savannah handled 8.3 percent of the U.S. containerized cargo volume and 12 percent of all U.S. containerized exports in FY2010.

Georgia Ports Authority, Savannah Economic Development Authority and S.C.’s Lowcountry Economic Alliance Sign Joint Resolution

Leaders from the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA) and Lowcountry Economic Alliance (LEA) signed a joint resolution today recognizing that maintaining strong port capacity and deepening both the Savannah and Charleston harbors are critical to the economic health of both the State of Georgia and the State of South Carolina. Additionally, the partners recognize the need to develop the Jasper Ocean Terminal infrastructure.

“The proposed deepening of the Savannah River is clearly important to the economic vitality for Georgia and South Carolina,” said GPA Executive Director Curtis J. Foltz. “Each of our organizations recognizes the importance of bringing to fruition the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project, the deepening of the Charleston Harbor and the development of the Jasper Ocean Terminal infrastructure. We firmly believe this region’s future demographic growth requires all three ports to be successful.”

According to the joint resolution: “In order for the Port of Savannah to remain competitive in the near term, and to allow post-Panamax ships to have full access to the Savannah River and its ports, the river must be dredged to 48 feet as envisioned by the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project.”

Deepwater ports in Savannah and Charleston are key U.S. gateways to international trade and must both be deepened in order to accommodate the new generation of containerships, which will begin to dominate ocean commerce when the expansion of the Panama Canal is completed in 2014.

“The Savannah Economic Development Authority Board of Directors unanimously approved this resolution to express our strong support for the deepening of the Savannah harbor, the Charleston harbor and the development of the Jasper Ocean Terminal,” said SEDA President and CEO Steven Weathers. “The Ports of Savannah and Charleston have been two of the greatest economic assets of this nation since their founding and, in order to continue to compete globally, they must be deepened. We are proud to be part of a region that is cooperating to achieve the highest and best results for the country, our states, and our citizens.”

Deepwater terminals along the Savannah River support hundreds of thousands of jobs throughout Georgia and South Carolina. It is estimated that as much as 60 percent of the employees at deepwater terminals along the Savannah River are Georgia residents and as many as 40 percent are South Carolina residents. GPA, SEDA and LEA have vested interests in assuring that all of the Savannah River port terminals, present and future, are strengthened to provide vital stimulation to the Savannah River basin.

“Lengthy conversations with our counterparts in Georgia have shown that we have the same goal, and that is economic prosperity for the Lowcountry and Coastal Empire,” said Kim Statler, a member of the Lowcountry Economic Alliance’s board of directors. “Our competitors are oversees, not across the river, and this resolution outlines a common understanding that the Savannah River is a critical component of that regional success.”

Through this resolution, the organizations individually and jointly support the creation of a bi-state compact by the Legislatures of Georgia and South Carolina, go on public record to encourage the creation of such a compact at the earliest possible time and will each take appropriate action to encourage entry into a bi-state compact. Upon approval of this compact by the Georgia and South Carolina Legislatures, the organizations will support the filing for permits for the Jasper Ocean Terminal by the Jasper Ocean Terminal Joint Project Office and will each take action to support the commencement of the permitting process.

“This partnership with Savannah has been a long time coming,” said Jasper County Administrator Andrew Fulghum, “And it is based on an understanding that we must succeed as a region. The Savannah River is a vital asset as we work to create prosperity in Jasper County, and we must work together to ensure that asset remains an economic anchor not only in the Lowcountry and Coastal Empire but all of the Southeast.”

Completion of the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP) is critically important to continued economic growth in the Southeastern United States. The SHEP will deepen the Savannah River from its current 42 foot depth to as much as 48 feet to allow these post-Panamax ships to call on the Port of Savannah. A deepened harbor will enable the Port of Savannah to more efficiently serve larger ships.

The Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA) is the economic development arm of Chatham County, Ga., formed to stimulate the economy through the attraction of investment, the creation of jobs and the support of established businesses already in the area

The Lowcountry Economic Alliance (LEA) is the regional economic development arm of Jasper and Beaufort Counties, S.C., formed by the respective County Councils to create an economic vision for the region, attract new business and diversify the tax base.
___

PHOTO: A container ship leaves the Port of Savannah after passing under the Talmadge Memorial Bridge

Georgia Ports Authority