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6/10/2026
Starting July 1, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Department of Agriculture will begin chilled cargo inspections at a new refrigerated facility at the Port of Savannah.
The 4,000-square-foot space allows customs officials to inspect cargo without breaking the cold chain. The facility has specialized infrastructure to ensure temperature controls, cleanliness, ventilation and freshness throughout the clearance and inspection process, Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) officials said in a press release.
“Our on-terminal Customs station supports the expedited handling of perishable cargo,” said GPA President and CEO Griff Lynch. “We know it’s important for shippers to get these commodities onto store shelves as quickly as possible while maintaining food safety.”
The inspections are intended to protect domestic agriculture against invasive pests or plant diseases. The new facility will complement numerous off-dock, nearby refrigerated warehouses.
Chilled cargo imports is one of the fastest-growing sectors for the GPA, up 10.5% for the fiscal year to date to 43,540 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs).
The refrigerated space is part of a $49.25 million, 300,000-square-foot facility on the Garden City Terminal. The location also accommodates inspections by other federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The Port of Savannah is served by CSX and Norfolk Southern Railway.