Savannah port receives large cranes; L.A. port forges pact with German partner

Four large ship-to-shore cranes arrived at the Port of Savannah's Garden City Terminal on Wednesday, increasing the facility's total number of electric-powered container cranes to 25 — the most of any U.S. terminal, according to the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA).

Designed by Konecranes of Finland and assembled in Nantong, China, the cranes can reach across vessels 22 containers wide and lift cargo weighing up to 65 long tons to a height of 136 feet. Each 1,388-ton crane measures 433 feet wide and 185 feet tall.

Combined with North America's largest container terminal and two Class Is on site — CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railway — the cranes will enhance the customer experience at the Savannah facility, said GPA Executive Director Curtis Foltz in a prepared statement.

The crane fleet upgrades demonstrate the GPA's commitment to expand capacity, provide more growth opportunities and increase flexibility to meet customers' needs, authority officials said.

"Savannah leads the Southeast in containerized cargo [and] these improvements will complement the planned harbor deepening to ensure Savannah's premier status in moving U.S. exports to the global marketplace," said GPA Chairman Robert Jepson.

Meanwhile, the Port of Los Angeles and Hamburg Port Authority recently signed a five-year memorandum of understanding to increase cooperation and solidify their partnership.

The U.S. and German port agreed to share strategies and best practices on topics ranging from port infrastructure, environmental and security challenges, and strategies to enhance trade competitiveness. The agreement could potentially benefit U.S. and international companies within the transportation and logistics industry, port officials believe.

“We have been fortunate to have a close collaborative relationship with the Hamburg Port Authority [and] this agreement formalizes and expands our partnership," said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Geraldine Knatz in a press release. "I expect it to be beneficial to both ports in the years ahead."