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December 2, 2013 |
Facilities: Georgia, Hueneme
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In the month of October, the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) added customer accounts and expanded its program to electrify rubber tired gantry cranes while Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal announced his intention to seek additional funding from the state legislature to fund the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project. BMW of North America and the Port of Hueneme have agreed to extend the German auto maker’s Hueneme operations for an additional five years, through December 31, 2018.
Georgia Ports Attract New Customers, Boosts Electrified Crane Fleet
In the month of October, the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) added customer accounts and expanded its program to electrify rubber tired gantry cranes while Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal announced his intention to seek additional funding from the state legislature to fund the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project. Executive Director Curtis Foltz reported at the ports authority board meeting on November 25 that GPA also achieved record cargo volumes during the month.
"Strong growth, new customer accounts and additional harbor deepening funding announced this month are all positive signs that Georgia's ports are moving in the right direction," he told the commissioners.
The accounts added to the Port of Savannah’s portfolio in October included a new Hankook Tires distribution facility that will house up to 600,000 tires and serve 10 states in the Southeastern United States.
"Strong growth, new customer accounts and additional harbor deepening funding announced this month are all positive signs that Georgia's ports are moving in the right direction," he told the commissioners.
The accounts added to the Port of Savannah’s portfolio in October included a new Hankook Tires distribution facility that will house up to 600,000 tires and serve 10 states in the Southeastern United States.
Another win for the GPA was the relocation of flooring producer Shaw Industries’ Southeast distribution center to Savannah. With the move, the company has doubled the capacity of its Northport Parkway location from 156,000 square feet to more than 300,000.
Earlier in the month, at the Atlanta "State of the Port" event, Gov. Deal announced his intention to seek another $35 million from the General Assembly to help fund the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project. The new request will bring the total state dollars allotted to the harbor deepening to $266 million. This would fulfill the state’s portion of the total project cost of $652 million.
"The harbor deepening and the GPA have enjoyed the steadfast support of our state leaders and our delegation to Washington from the start of this project in 1999," said GPA Board Chairman Robert Jepson. "The commitment and foresight of Gov. Deal and others have brought us to where we stand today – ready to begin construction."
With respect to landside infrastructure, the GPA board dedicated $8 million to expand its program to electrify the rubber-tired gantry cranes used to handle containers at Garden City Terminal. The new technology, according to the GPA, cuts diesel fuel consumption by an estimated 95 percent per crane.
In FY2013, during the program’s first phase, the GPA electrified four RTG cranes. The next phase will expand the electrification system to a larger area and convert 10 cranes from diesel to electric power.
With respect to landside infrastructure, the GPA board dedicated $8 million to expand its program to electrify the rubber-tired gantry cranes used to handle containers at Garden City Terminal. The new technology, according to the GPA, cuts diesel fuel consumption by an estimated 95 percent per crane.
In FY2013, during the program’s first phase, the GPA electrified four RTG cranes. The next phase will expand the electrification system to a larger area and convert 10 cranes from diesel to electric power.
Cargo volume at GPA facilities statewide hit a monthly high in October of 2.54 million tons, a 22 percent increase from October 2012. The Colonel’s Island Terminal at the Port of Brunswick and Savannah’s Ocean Terminal combined to move a record 62,343 units of automobiles and heavy machinery in October, for an increase of 10,045 or 19.2 percent over October 2012.
October’s growth pushed total tonnage to 9.6 million for the fiscal year that began July 1, a 9.2 percent increase from the comparable period of FY2013.
During October as well, container throughput at Garden City Terminal in Savannah jumped 19 percent to 274,362 TEUs, boosting the fiscal year-to-date total to 1.06 million TEUs and a year-on-year increase of 5.3 percent.
Hueneme/BMW North America Renew Agreement for Five Years
BMW of North America and the Port of Hueneme have agreed to extend the German auto maker’s Hueneme operations for an additional five years, through December 31, 2018. It is the fifth extension to an agreement that first took effect in June 1987.
Vessel discharging BMWs at Port of Hueneme.
Photo/Port of Hueneme
Said Harbor Board President Jason Hodge, "BMW’s Vehicle Distribution Center, along with a training center and the Emissions Test center, employs 85 workers, most of whom live in Oxnard and Port Hueneme, and further employs no less than 30+ temporaries, with an overall estimated payroll of roughly $4.4 million a year."
BMW’s Port manager Mark T. Walsh said, "As a part of the Oxnard community, BMW of North America and our employees are excited to continue the growth of our partnership which began in 1987 and has seen approximately 1.4 million vehicles pass through this facility."
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) was established in 1975 as the United States importer of BMW luxury/performance vehicles. The Oxnard Vehicle Distribution Center serves BMW customers throughout the entire western United States.
The Oxnard Vehicle Distribution Center processes about one-third of all new BMWs sold in the United States.
Photo/Port of Hueneme
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