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The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) expects to invest $152 million on a capital improvement plan for its terminals in Brunswick, Ga., over the next decade, authority officials announced yesterday.

The investment is on top of the $46.2 million that the GPA has spent on infrastructure upgrades at the Port of Brunswick, GPA Executive Director Curtis Foltz said in a press release.

"In order to ensure efficient processing of cargo, our capacity must remain higher than current demand," Foltz said. "To that end, we will be improving Brunswick facilities serving each of our major business sectors here, including automotive, breakbulk and bulk cargo."

Among the projects is a proposal to add a fourth berth to serve roll-on/roll-off (ro/ro) cargo at Colonel's Island Terminal. The authority has requested a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the new berth, and hopes to begin construction next year.

The project would address rapid growth in Brunswick’s automotive tonnage. In fiscal-year 2015, the automotive tonnage made the port the fastest growing major ro/ro terminal in the United States, authority officials said.

"Served by eight ocean carriers, Colonel's Island Terminal offers three modern ro/ro berths and four on-terminal auto processors, handling cargo for more than 60 auto and heavy machinery manufacturers," said GPA Vice Chairman Jimmy Allgood. "With 696 acres in use and 641 acres permitted for expansion on Colonel's Island, GPA can easily accommodate additional ro/ro business."

The authority is preparing 40 acres on the south side of Colonel's Island to be pad ready for new customers. Projects slated for fiscal-year 2016 include additional earthwork at Colonel’s Island; the next phase of the Anguilla Junction Rail Yard expansion; the first phase of a berth upgrade at Mayor's Point; East River Terminal improvements; and continued upgrades at the Colonel’s Island agribulk facility.

Foltz also announced yesterday that the total tons of cargo moved across GPA docks in Brunswick were flat at just under 3.5 million tons during FY2015, which ended June 30, compared with FY2014.