Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) has announced it has officially started its new fast track routing process for container vessels entering the Port of Savannah designed to optimise Savannah River transit for inbound vessels to Garden City Terminal.
The lay berth option allows GPA to work two more ships per week which increases berth utilisation.
‘The key point of the lay berth is the reduction in berth idle time from 12-15 hours down to three hours,’ Georgia Ports said.
The lay berth option enables inbound ships to temporarily dock at Ocean Terminal – which is nearby to the larger Garden City Terminal – and then move quickly into a berth at Garden City Terminal as soon as another ship departs.
This pre-staging area near the next open berth enables ships to accelerate port discharge and loading operations.
The port authority highlighted that the CCNI Arauco – a Maersk Gemini Service vessel – was able to start work at 7pm yesterday (11 September). However, if this lay berth option were not available, the vessel would have had to start operations at 7am today.
‘This lay berth, combined with our eight start times for ship labour, creates exciting new possibilities for ships to stay on schedule or make up time,’ said Griff Lynch, President and CEO of Georga Ports. ‘We want to thank Maersk for their leadership as the first customer to use it. This is a gamechanger for GPA and our BCOs (beneficial cargo owners) who will benefit greatly with it.’
Image: Georgia Ports
