GPA plans clean truck program for Port of Savannah

The Port of Savannah continued to see steady growth in container volumes during the month of October, with throughput up 3 percent to 321,094 TEUs compared with the same month in 2014.    The Georgia Ports Authority plans to launch a program, with the help of a federal grant, to assist independent drivers in switching to more modern, cleaner-burning diesel trucks. Monday’s announcement came as the Port of Savannah continues to see steady container growth, with October volumes up 3 percent over the same month in 2014 to 321,094 TEUs.
   During the first quarter of the fiscal year, ending Oct. 31, the nation’s fourth largest container port moved 1.27 million TEUs, up 74,754 units, or 6.2 percent. 
   “Month over month container volume growth continues to outperform expectations,” Executive Director Curtis Foltz said in his report during GPA’s board meeting, according to a port authority news release. “Inflated volumes in 2014 due to West Coast cargo diversions are beginning to return to normal levels. We are optimistic consumer spending in the U.S. during the upcoming holiday season will lead to volume growth going into 2016.”
   The pace of growth cooled off from 7.3 percent in September and 10 percent in 2014. September was the slowest month of growth at Savannah this year after 4.4 growth in August. Prior to that, container volumes were up between 10 to 27 percent, depending on the month.
   The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded the GPA $900,000 under the Diesel Emission Reduction Act program. The money will go toward providing owner-operators with rebates and financing for replacing older trucks with a 2010 or newer engine. The GPA said it will partner with a financing vendor to double the program’s size to almost $2 million.  
   “As we continue to grow this business, we are committed to doing it in an environmentally responsible way,” Foltz said. “This DERA grant will expand our efforts to reduce diesel emissions.” 
   Since 2001, the GPA has achieved a 51 percent decrease in diesel use per TEU moved. By shifting from diesel to electric power for ship-to-shore cranes, refrigerated container racks and rubber-tired gantry cranes, the authority has avoided using 5.8 million gallons of diesel annually.
   The port authority board also approved a $12.75 million expenditure to increase by 63 acres the Port of Brunswick’s vehicle storage area to meet rising demand from auto manufacturers for import and export capacity.