Georgia ports, SIPG sign all-water strategic pact

Georgia ports, SIPG sign all-water strategic pact    The Georgia Ports Authority has signed a memorandum of understanding with the operator of the port of Shanghai, Shanghai International Port (Group) Co. Ltd., to jointly promote all-water shipping routes and trade opportunities between Asia and the port of Savannah.
   Under terms of the MOU the two parties have agreed to exchange information and expertise in the areas of marketing, operations and information technology.
   “China’s economy continues to fuel world trade among all nations, and in doing so is growing a new domestic market of its own for the world economies to service via exports to China,” said Doug J. Marchand, executive director of the Georgia Ports Authority. “This strategic alliance will allow GPA and the Shanghai International Port Group to improve services for our customers and generate new economic opportunities for Georgia and the Southeastern United States.'
   There are 16 weekly all-water Asia/U.S. East Coast services, including 14 via the Panama Canal and two via the Suez Canal, calling at the port of Savannah.
   The port authority, which also operates the deepwater ports in Brunswick, along with inland barge operations in Bainbridge and Columbus, exported 59,028 TEUs to Shanghai in 2004.
   The authority has similar strategic partnerships with other ports, including Sydney Ports Corp., the Panama Canal Authority and the port of Shimizu in Japan.