Port Of Savannah Sees Record Month, Funding Boost
The shipping vessel MOL Modern sails to sea down the Savannah River from the Port of Savannah earlier this year. May was one of the port’s busiest months, and the effort to deepen the Savannah harbor got a financial boost.
Stephen B. Morton / Associated Press file
The Port of Savannah had a pretty good week.
It just logged one of its busiest months ever, and the effort to deepen the Savannah harbor just got a financial shot in the arm.
The Georgia Ports Authority says Savannah handled 3 million tons of cargo in May, up 3 percent from the same time last year.
That makes it the second busiest month in the port’s history, and the busiest May ever for the Georgia Ports Authority.
“The Georgia Ports Authority is on track to have the most successful year in its history, on a number of fronts,” GPA Board Chairman Jimmy Allgood said.
The record numbers come in the wake of some good financial news for the effort to deepen the Savannah harbor and shipping channel to allow bigger ships to reach the port.
Earlier this week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released its 2018 work plan, which put an additional $35 million toward the project. That’s on top of the $50 million allocated for the effort in this year’s federal budget.
The $85 million in total funding for the year is more than enough to keep the project on track, according to members of Georgia’s congressional delegation.
U.S. Sens. Johnny Isakson and David Perdue, and U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, who represents Savannah, had no shortage of praise for the Trump administration for the financial support.
“I thank President Trump, OMB Director Mulvaney and the Corps of Engineers for demonstrating their commitment to completing this project that is so critical to our economy,” Isakson said.
The Army Corps estimates the Savannah harbor expansion will cost $973 million, but will generate $282 million in benefits a year.
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