PORT OF SAVANNAH CONTAINER VOLUMES UP 10%

PORT OF SAVANNAH CONTAINER VOLUMES UP 10%    The Port of Savannah has maintained a record pace for container volumes, handling 934,615 TEUs through the first 10 months of its fiscal year.
   The port's total through April is 10.1 percent ahead of the year-earlier period, an increase of 85,680 TEUs over July 2000-April 2001.
   'Three new recent service announcements will significantly add to the volume of cargo moving via Savannah,' said Doug J. Marchand, executive director of the Georgia Ports Authority.
   In May, Mediterranean Shipping Co. launched a new pendulum service, connecting Asia to the U.S. West and East coasts, with vessel calls at Savannah. MSC also added a new transatlantic service in February.
   Also in May, the Grand Alliance carriers Hapag-Lloyd, NYK, OOCL and P&O Nedlloyd added a new service linking Asia and the U.S. East Coast via the Panama Canal, which calls at Savannah.
   And in June, the New World Alliance, which includes APL, Hyundai Merchant Marine and MOL will add Savannah to its Atlantic Pacific Express service.
   Georgia Ports Authority terminals have handled more than 10.7 million tons of cargo at Savannah, Brunswick and the inland terminal in Bainbridge during the first 10 months of its fiscal year. The total marks a nearly a 3 percent increase over the year-earlier period.