The Port of Savannah will transform its breakbulk terminal into an all-container operation as the port contends with rising volumes. 

Georgia Ports Authority said in a statement last Tuesday that it will renovate and realign the docks at the port’s 200-acre Ocean Terminal to better accommodate container operations. Renovations are set to start in January 2023 with completion expected in 2026. 

“Completion of this project will improve our flexibility and allow Georgia Ports to optimize cargo movement, supporting our customers in delivering goods to market efficiently,” GPA executive director Griff Lynch said in a statement.

Breakbulk cargo carried by Wallenius Wilhelmsen Ocean will now be shifted to Colonel’s Island Terminal in Brunswick, according to the statement. Construction began on 360,000-square-feet of dockside warehousing that will serve auto processing, as well as three additional buildings and 85 acres of auto storage space on the south side of the island.

The renovated Ocean Terminal will provide 2,800 linear feet of berth space, capable of serving two big ships simultaneously. The project will also bring expanded gate facilities and paving, allowing for an annual capacity of 1.5 million TEUs.

The renovation announcement comes on the heels of the port’s busiest October on record. Officials expect volumes to “taper downward” towards the end of the year, however, according to the release.

Georgia Ports Authority has worked on several initiatives to advance the flow of cargo, with extended gate hours and a new ship berth slated to open July 2023. The goal is to add capacity from 6 million to 7.5 million TEUs by 2023 and 9 million TEUs by 2025.

“While we are beginning to see an anticipated market correction, it is important that GPA move forward with projects like the Ocean Terminal enhancements to accommodate business growth,” GPA Board Chairman Joel Wooten said in a statement.