Georgia Ports Authority to Expand Refrigerated Container Capacity at Savannah Port

Georgia has two sites certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for handling cold imports, and their temperature control mechanisms may malfunction during transportation. The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) will increase the refrigerated container capacity of its largest marine terminal next year, as the volume of cold chain cargo increases and private operators add more cold storage facilities around Savannah.

GPA stated in a release on Tuesday that its board of directors has approved a $60,000 project to add seven refrigerated container racks at the Port of Savannah. The new racks will add two more slots to the existing 2,168 slots at the Port's Garden City Terminal.

A spokesperson for GPA stated in a declaration that the new rack capacity will be launched in the spring of 2024. In addition to the currently available 482 chassis plugs, the new plugs will enable Garden City to provide a total of 3,506 refrigerated plugs.

The maritime terminal in Savannah also has an additional 368 refrigerated plugs.

In an initial statement, Griff Lynch, executive director of GPA, said that the additional plug capacity entering Savannah is to cope with the growth of regional cold storage capacity. GPA stated that the cold storage warehouse capacity in the region will increase by 11% this year, reaching 20,000 square feet.

"Although the Port of Savannah already accommodates the largest number of refrigerated containers on the South Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, enhancing our terminal capabilities will better support the employment and opportunities triggered by private investment," Lynch said.

Georgia has two refrigerated warehouses, which are certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. If the temperature control in the containers fails during transportation, the imported pests can be reprocessed.

According to relevant data, Savannah handled 910,2022 TEU of refrigerated imports and exports throughout the year of 2022, which was on par with that of 2021. GPA indicated that its fastest-growing refrigerated container exports included poultry, beef, fish, confectionery, and frozen vegetables. In terms of imports, GPA handled grapes, vegetables, fish, potatoes, and confectionery.

In addition, GPA stated in its announcement on Tuesday that there are no vessels waiting in the queue to berth at Savannah. The port is expected to receive four new cranes by September 20th, which can handle vessels of up to 20,000 TEU.