The Georgia Ports Authority reported its third busiest October, handling 494,261 TEUs twenty-foot equivalent container units. This figure trails only October 2021 and 2022, when the Port of Savannah processed over half a million TEUs.
Part of the growth came from record activity at the Appalachian Regional Port near Chatsworth, which saw 3,666 rail lifts in October, a 4.4% increase from last year.
Operations at the Savannah and Brunswick ports were temporarily halted in late September and early October due to a labor dispute involving dockworkers. A tentative agreement reopened the ports and delayed further action until January 15.
“Although cargo volumes are rising, many customers are still diverting to the U.S. West Coast during ongoing contract negotiations,” said Griff Lynch, President and CEO of the ports authority.
Additionally, the ports received a $46 million federal grant from the EPA’s Clean Ports program in October.
The funds will be used to install shore power infrastructure, allowing ships to plug in and reduce diesel emissions, and to replace diesel terminal tractors with electric models, including the necessary charging stations.