The Port of Savannah has recently received four new electric ship-to-shore cranes, bringing Ocean Terminal's fleet to eight Super Post Panamax cranes, and eventually allowing the terminal to accommodate the largest vessels operating on the US East Coast.

Once all the cranes — designed by Finland-based, Konecranes — are commissioned and berth construction is completed, the eight ship-to-shore cranes at Ocean Terminal will have the capability to service two vessels simultaneously.

"The completion of this project in 2028 will enable Ocean Terminal to accommodate the largest vessels serving the U.S. East Coast," said Ed McCarthy, chief operating officer of Georgia Ports.

"Our goal is to ensure customers have the future berth capacity for their larger vessels’ first port of calls with the fastest U.S. inland connectivity to compete in world markets," he added.

Susan Gardner, vice president of operations at Georgia Ports, noted that ocean carrier customers can bring their ships and make up valuable time in their sailing schedule using the big ship berths. 

"Our crane productivity and 24-hour rail transit to inland markets is industry-leading," Gardner said.

Ocean Terminal, while still open and operating, is currently in a renovation phase.

The GPA board approved a US$29 million exit ramp from the terminal enabling direct to local highways, allowing trucks to direct highway transit to Atlanta without any traffic lights until entering Atlanta.

The ramp project is 60% complete and is designed with the local community in mind to keep container trucks off local neighbourhood roads.