SAVANAH, GEORGIA - 29 years after starting it’s Colonel’s Island operations, a silver Hyundai Genesis became the 5 millionth vehicle handled by International Auto Processing (IAP) at the Port of Brunswick.

"In 2014, we handled more than 450,000 vehicles," said Robert Miller, president and CEO of IAP. Imports arrive from Europe, Asia and Mexico, and exports account for about a third of IAP's volume. "These are vehicles manufactured in the U.S. and then exported to Europe, Asia, Central and South America," he said, adding the vehicle handling process has evolved from its start three decades ago.

"On behalf of the GPA, I would like to congratulate IAP, a long-time partner at the Port of Brunswick," said Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Curtis Foltz. "This important milestone exemplifies IAP's reliability and the trust automakers have in their service."

The port now ranks as the busiest in the US for the import of new vehicles and the No. 2 U.S. port in total import-export trade. By the end of 2014, GPA terminals in Brunswick and Savannah surpassed 7 million vehicles moved since 1986.

- Darren Barton