Across all ports under the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), total tonnage increased 13 per cent, or 334,950 tonnes, to 2.94 million tonnes, the busiest April ever.

 

　　"Savannah has established itself as a premier gateway serving the eastern United States," said GPA executive director Griff Lynch.

 

　　"Our team is not only keeping pace with record volumes, but has managed to set new industry standards in cargo velocity, berth productivity and congestion free gates," he said.

 

　　Mr Lynch cited the recent visit of the Cosco Development, the first 13,000-TEU vessel to call at the US east coast, as an example.

 

　　During the 30 hours the vessel was at dock, six cranes moved more than 9,700 TEU on and off the vessel, with a net berth productivity of 220 boxes per hour.

 

　　Last month's performance continues a surge of growth for the GPA across the first four months of the calendar year, with TEU increasing to 1.3 million, up 10.2 per cent (121,258 TEU) compared to the same period in 2016.

 

　　"Our goal at Georgia's ports has been to stay one step ahead of demand in the marketplace," said GPA chairman Jimmy Allgood. "As a result of this approach, we can accommodate more and more vessels like the Cosco Development without delays."