The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) has reported that 2016 marked its busiest year ever in loaded container traffic, moving 2.94 million TEU, an increase of 71,083 TEU over 2015. Counting loaded and empty containers, the Port of Savannah handled 3.64 million TEU.

Container throughput in December grew 12.3 per cent year on year to a record 292,172 TEU.

Roll-on/roll-off cargo mirrored that growth, with a 12.3 per cent increase (7,000 units) in passenger vehicles and heavy equipment handled at Colonel's Island terminal in Brunswick and Ocean Terminal in Savannah. Georgia's deepwater ports moved 63,967 ro/ro units in December.

GPA executive director Griff Lynch attributed the record growth in December to its "proximity to major population and manufacturing sites, direct interstate access and the most ocean carrier routes in the US southeast."

In its effort to stay ahead of demand and accommodate future needs, the GPA broke ground in December on its new inland terminal in northwest Georgia - the Appalachian regional port (ARP). Port officials estimate the CSX rail route will reduce Atlanta truck traffic by 50,000 moves annually, and expand GPA's target market in Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky.

Inland terminal construction is expected to take just under two years, with the start of operations at the ARP targeted for the third quarter of 2018.