Volume in Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia is rising quickly, including an all-time container record in Savannah and Norfolk in November, due to continuing demand for furniture and appliances.

The Appalachian Regional Port has been more successful than port officials hoped, so the Georgia Ports Authority wants money to develop more land to store containers.

Port authorities in the US Southeast are closely monitoring terminal fluidity as volume picks up, and making adjustments to ensure cargo owners don’t see service degrade.

With nine working tracks unveiled at the Port of Savannah’s Mega Rail Terminal Thursday, the Georgia Ports Authority is nearly finished with Norfolk Southern's portion of a large intermodal rail yard.

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.”