The Port of Savannah will be closed to truckers on Saturdays this month due to blank sailings and BCOs unwilling to retrieve containers with stores and factories closed due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Georgia Ports Authority anticipates a nearly 20 percent decline in March volumes due to the coronavirus, but weekday hours will remain unchanged and empty containers will be accepted.

The Georgia Ports Authority outlined an ambitious plan to grow its footprint that includes acquiring new land near its Garden City Terminal to hold more containers, a partial container conversion at its breakbulk Ocean Terminal, and a brand new container terminal.

Georgia Ports Authority’s “state of the port” address detailed investments in ro-ro infrastructure at Colonel’s Island.

Although drayage rates are rising annually, digital load-matching platform DrayNow says expenses are dropping due to shorter lengths of haul, a trend true for international containers, too.

Brunswick port forms an integral link in Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia’s supply chain, handling both incoming components and finished vehicles for export.

The port authorities involved believe the current total is good enough for now, but how long that remains the case, and what action they would take moving forward, depends on several factors.

The future looks bright in Savannah for beneficial cargo owners. Volume is increasing, market share is growing, and Georgia Ports Authority officials have a strong vision — including a bold TEU goal — to continue the upward momentum by expanding services and fixing its shortcomings to keep its place as the top port in the US Southeast.

Hurricane Irma’s arrival this weekend threatens to roil US supply chains and seriously impact trucking rates.

“Yes, there is more money needed for it, but if we’re truly looking for projects that will have a meaningful payback to the nation, this is the project.”

A federal judge on Friday gave the go-ahead to Maher Terminals at the Port of New York and New Jersey and the Georgia Ports Authority to dispose of Hanjin Shipping containers.

When competition spurs investment, shippers stand to benefit regardless of their port preference. A variety of factors — harbor depths, ocean services, on- and near-dock intermodal facilities, rail lift capacity, and inland reach — will determine where shippers will funnel Asia imports heading to Chicago and the Ohio Valley sweet spot farther east.

After years being bandied about, a planned $3 billion container terminal on the Georgia-South Carolina border took a major step forward last week when the US Army Corps of Engineers formally began its review of the project.

The port of Brunswick is aiming to become the top US port for vehicles.