Georgia Ports Authority OKs capital projects to accommodate growth

The Georgia Ports Authority's (GPA) board yesterday approved up to $12.6 million in spending to continue expanding its yard crane electrification project at the Port of Savannah.

The project's first two phases have been completed with a total of 19 rubber-tired gantry cranes operating within the electrified system (eRTGs). Construction of the third phase involves the addition of four container rows, using 16 additional rubber-tired gantry cranes within the electrified system, according to a GPA press release.

The eRTGs will make up 25 percent of the GPA crane fleet by summer 2016, officials said.

"Electrifying the RTGs will reduce fuel and maintenance costs, as well as carbon emissions as GPA strives to be a leader in environmental stewardship," said GPA Vice Chairman James Allgood. "Increasing market share while strengthening our commitment to service, sustainability and safety is a key strategy for the GPA moving forward."

Also on Monday, the board approved a project to refurbish the concrete wharf at Mayor's Point Terminal in Brunswick. The dock was built in 1983 and expanded in 1992.

Investment in port infrastructure projects has allowed the GPA to accommodate "unprecedented freight expansion," said GPA Executive Director Curtis Foltz. He noted that the GPA has logged a 16.6 percent increase in container volumes since January.