Georgia Ports Authority sets records in FY 2018

Appalachian Regional Port inland rail terminal slated to open in August.    The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) handled a record 4.2 million TEUs in fiscal year 2018, which ran from July 1, 2017, through June 30.
   This was an 8.4 percent increase from fiscal year 2017, the port said.
   In terms of tonnage, GPA handled 36 million tons of containerized, breakbulk and bulk cargo in fiscal year 2018, up 8 percent year-over-year.
   On Monday, GPA’s board approved the construction of an $8.8 million overpass, part of the $127 million Mason Mega Rail project. The Mason Mega Rail Terminal, which will commence operations in 2020, will double the Port of Savannah’s rail capacity to 1 million container lifts per year.
   In addition, GPA’s board approved a project to increase the number of refrigerated container racks at the Port of Savannah from 104 racks to 119 racks.
   The board also approved the purchase of 10 additional container-handling machines at a cost of $3.5 million.
   In August, the GPA will open its Appalachian Regional Port (APR), an inland rail terminal in northwest Georgia. APR will offer exclusive CSX service on a direct, 388-mile rail route to/from the Port of Savannah’s Garden City Terminal. GPA said APR will provide an alternative to an all-truck dray to and from the Port of Savannah for target markets in Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky.