Port Performance: Georgia, Virginia

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Double-digit growth in total tonnage and a record number of auto and machinery units highlighted FY 2014 at Georgia’s Port of Brunswick, The Port of Virginia reports container volume totaling 201,113 TEUs in September, up 8.6 percent from a year ago and the third consecutive month when the container count exceeded 200,000 TEUs.

Brunswick (GA) Record Ro/Ro Trade, Double-Digit Cargo Growth

Honda Fit vehicles arrive at the Port of Brunswick. New business from Honda, as well as growing cargo from other carmakers, led to a record year in roll-on/roll-off traffic for the port.
Photo/Stephen B. Morton. Georgia Ports Authority

Double-digit growth in total tonnage and a record number of auto and machinery units highlighted the FY 2014 performance of the Port of Brunswick, according Curtis Foltz, executive director of the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA).

"Our deepwater terminals in Brunswick achieved broad growth in all business sectors, including forest and farm products as well as breakbulk cargo, auto and machinery units," Mr. Foltz said. "Total tonnage was up by 11.6 percent, at more than 3.4 million tons of cargo."

During FY 2014, a record 674,327 autos and machinery units rolled through the GPA’s Colonel’s Island Terminal in Brunswick, an increase of 8.3 percent, or 51,625 units, from the previous record set in FY 2013.

New business in Brunswick includes Honda imports, as well as increased numbers of vehicles moved for Audi, Bentley, GM, Land Rover, Kia, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Porsche, Rolls Royce, Subaru and Toyota.

Saying he expects strong growth to continue in ro/ro traffic, Mr. Foltz detailed opportunities for expansion on Colonel's Island, with 696 acres in use on the north side of the island and 742 acres permitted for expansion on the south side.

Also in FY2014, the Port of Brunswick achieved strong growth in forest products.

East River Terminal achieved an increase of 19.4 percent (157,924 tons) for a total of 973,281 tons of bulk cargo, which includes products such as wood pellets and chips. At Mayor's Point, where cargoes consist of forest products, such as wood pulp, linerboard, plywood and paper, throughput jumped 21.9 percent to 157,686 tons. Agribulk cargo at Colonel's Island Terminal reached 991,374 tons, up 5.3 percent largely due to increases in soybean meal.

The Obama Administration's FY2015 budget included $3.9 million for Brunswick shipping channel maintenance dredging. The U.S. House of Representatives’ Appropriations Committee has approved funding at that level, which is down from $5.3 million in FY14. Mr. Foltz said the GPA Board approved the expenditure of up to $3 million to offset the reduced federal funding availability.

 Virginia Tops 200,000 TEUs in September, Congestion Mitigation Remains Focus

The Port of Virginia reports container volume totaling 201,113 TEUs in September. That was up 8.6 percent from a year ago and the third consecutive month when the container count exceeded 200,000 TEUs. Year-to-date volume totaled 1,759,894 TEUs, up 7.1 percent from 1,642,927 TEUs in January-September 2013.

The port’s operating income in September was $102,827. The extended (weekend) truck gates offered to better manage peak-season volume and the timing of volume incentives in current contracts reduced per-box revenue and had an effect on the month’s operating income, according to John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority.

"The heavy volumes and profitability continue, but our delivery of service to the motor carriers is not acceptable," Mr. Reinhart said. "We are pushing our capacity limits at both Virginia International Gateway (VIG) and Norfolk International Terminals (NIT). We’re already working vessels at Portsmouth Marine Terminal (PMT) and that move is designed to provide a measure of relief to VIG and NIT, but our truck gates and service time remain an immediate area of focus."

In September, the port moved 76,782 containers by truck, 13,359 more than in September 2013. "As a result, we’re experiencing congestion at our truck gates and increased turn-times and this is putting a service burden on our motor carriers," Mr. Reinhart said.

Operating income for the first quarter of fiscal 2015 was $4,305,025, compared with an operating loss of $3,401,678 for the same quarter in fiscal 2014.

In some areas efficiency the port reports continuing improvement. On Columbus Day (Oct. 13), the rail operation at NIT processed 1,173 containers, a new single-day record for that terminal. "On rail we are hitting our tempo, or consistency, and now we need to achieve that at the truck gates," Mr. Reinhart said.

In a year-to-date comparison, the port reports volume increases from 2013 in containers handled by rail ( 4.4 percent), truck ( 8.6 percent), barge (8.2 percent) and via the Virginia Inland Port ( 17.4 percent). Also higher were ship calls ( 3 percent) and vehicle units ( 6.4 percent).

The port has exceeded the 200,000-TEU mark in April, May, July, August and September.

In September, the port worked 167 vessels (container, break bulk and ro/ro).

The port has generated an operating profit in the first three months of fiscal 2015 and in six of the last seven months in calendar 2014.

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