Intermodal Briefs: Ports of Indiana, Georgia Ports Authority

The Port of Savannah captured the highest container market share ever, according to GPA.

Ports of Indiana issues Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a rail operator at Ports of Indiana-Mount Vernon. Also, the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) achieves record Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro/Ro) volumes in Fiscal Year 2023.

Ports of Indiana is seeking submissions from railroads interested in providing intra-port switching and track maintenance services at Ports of Indiana-Mount Vernon.

“We are seeking companies that can demonstrate a strong capacity for future business growth, best-in-class operations, and exceptional customer service, which are integral to the port’s operations,” Ports of Indiana stated in a recently released RFQ.

According to the RFQ, Ports of Indiana is looking for a rail partner to “create a win-win-win business environment to support growth for customers, the port, and rail operations.” Current tenant capabilities include barge-to-rail and rail-to-barge bulk and general cargo operations, as well as direct rail service to storage and processing facilities for agriculture, energy, steel, and minerals. The Rail Operator, Ports of Indiana says, is expected to provide services to “grow business, diversify cargoes and partner with the port to make investments into expansions and drive projects that create regional economic benefits.

Port attributes include:

• Ohio River port is part of #1 ranked inland port district in U.S. by tonnage.
• 1,200-acre port has 12 tenants and over 600 acres of industrial sites.
• Potential access for 5 Class I railroads (NS, CSX, UP, BNSF, CN).
• Switching services for approximately 10,000 carloads per year.
• Port receives up to 50,000 railcars per year for all tenants.
• Direct interchange with Evansville Western Railway, a Class II regional railroad.
• Facility includes 8.2 miles of port track and storage for approximately 200 cars.
• PIDP grant application submitted to fund $18M railyard and transload facility.
• Cargoes include Steel, Project Cargo, Corn, Soy Products, DDGs, Ethanol, Fertilizer, and Talc.
• Port is located within 30 miles from Median Center of U.S. population, Toyota’s 2nd largest U.S. auto manufacturing facility and a new U.S.-to-Canada I-69 interstate opening in 2024.

Submissions are due Aug. 31, 2023.

GPA on July 25 announced that it handled record Ro/Ro volumes in FY23, at more than 723,500 units, an increase of 18% or nearly 109,000 units over the previous year.

According to GPA, Ro/Ro imports were up by 99,000 units year-over-year, or 24%, while exports increased 11,500 units, or more than 7%. Besides expansion of existing business, GPA also added Nissan as a Brunswick customer in FY2023. Colonel’s Island Terminal now handles Nissan imports from Japan and Mexico.

According to the most recent PIERS data, the Port of Savannah achieved 11.2% market share in container trade among U.S. ports on the East, West and Gulf coasts through April, its highest ever.

A total of 5.4 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) crossed GPA docks in FY2023, down 6.7% or 387,000 TEUs compared to FY2022, GPA’s all-time high. However, when compared to pre-pandemic volumes of 4.5 million TEUs in FY2019, GPA says its performance achieved an increase of 20%. Its compound annual growth rate since FY2019 is 4.7% per year.

Record trade at the Appalachian Regional Port was another highlight in FY2023, according to GPA. The inland terminal handled its highest volumes ever, at 33,700 rail lifts, an increase of more than 18% or 5,200 containers.

To prepare for future demand, GPA says it is investing $1.9 billion in current infrastructure projects. Enhancements include renovations to Berth 1 at Garden City Terminal, increasing berth capacity there by 25%. An improved Berth 1 reopened to vessel service July 20, providing faster turn times for ocean carriers.

“A new transload facility will deliver greater speed and flexibility for customers in cargo handling, while the Garden City West development adds 100 acres of long-term storage available at lower cost than in the regular container yard,” GPA said.

Upgrades now under construction at the Port of Brunswick include 640,000 square feet of new processing space across five new buildings, and 122 acres of additional auto storage. The new acreage, GPA says, will increase Ro/Ro capacity from 1.2 million to 1.4 million vehicles per year. Two near-dock warehouses and three buildings on the south side of Colonel’s Island start coming online in August. GPA has also won federal approval to construct a fourth Ro/Ro berth at Colonel’s Island. Currently in the engineering phase, Berth 4 will better accommodate carriers in the 7,000-vehicle class.

“The Port of Brunswick achieved strong growth in the import and export of heavy machinery, while auto manufacturers’ improved microchip supply also meant an increase in vehicles,” said GPA President/CEO Griff Lynch. “I’d like to thank our customers for their continued confidence in Brunswick as a superior gateway to the U.S., and the auto processors for the world-class service they are providing.”

“This continues a trend stemming from the U.S. Southeast’s fast-growing population, increased domestic production and a shift in overseas manufacturing toward India and Southeast Asia, favoring delivery via Savannah,” Lynch added. “I’d like to commend GPA employees, and our partners at Gateway Terminals and the International Longshoremen’s Association for their outstanding work during our second busiest year ever.”