Completed berth is handling ships as Georgia Ports advances $1.6 billion terminal expansion
SAVANNAH, Ga. (Sept. 29, 2026) — Renovations at the Port of Savannah’s Ocean Terminal are more than 60% complete, according to the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA). The $1.6 billion project is designed to increase the terminal’s annual container capacity from 200,000 to 1.75 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).
The terminal’s 2,650-foot berth is complete and handling ships. GPA plans to serve smaller vessels there until the first phase of container yard renovations is finished in mid-fall 2027. The full yard renovation is expected to be complete by the end of 2028.
“Ocean Terminal is a major part of our strategy to prepare Savannah for future growth. The renovated berth is fully completed and ready for big ships,” GPA CEO Griff Lynch said at the authority’s board meeting Tuesday.
Ocean Terminal’s truck gate is fully operational and will feature 12 inbound and six outbound lanes. A $29 million, port-funded overpass directs departing trucks onto U.S. 17 and Interstate 16, allowing them to bypass neighborhood streets.
“Transforming a 200-acre terminal while keeping the port operating is a tremendous undertaking, and the progress at Ocean Terminal is a testament to the hard work of our GPA team and our partners,” said GPA Board Chairman Alec Poitevint.
The project is part of Georgia Ports’ plan to invest $5 billion in capacity improvements over the next decade, including five additional container berths in Savannah and a roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) berth in Brunswick.
Port of Savannah Exports Rise in August
The Port of Savannah handled 529,523 TEUs in August. Loaded exports reached 117,242 TEUs, an increase of nearly 4,700 TEUs, or 4.2%, from a year earlier. Loaded imports rose approximately 3,800 TEUs, or 1.5%, to 265,859 TEUs.
“We are encouraged by the demand for the Port of Savannah and expect a strong finish to the year,” said Georgia Ports President Kevin Price.
The Port of Brunswick handled 60,572 automobile units in August, while heavy machinery volumes increased 22%.
Canal Routes and Savannah Infrastructure
GPA also reported improving conditions at the Panama Canal following increased rainfall in September. The Panama Canal Authority expects allowable vessel drafts to rise through November, when they are projected to return to the maximum 50 feet. On Sept. 28, the authority added one Neopanamax transit booking slot.
Ocean carriers are also testing a return to Suez Canal routes, including Maersk’s MECL service and CMA CGM’s INDAMEX service. According to GPA, routing through the Suez Canal can shorten transit times between India and Savannah by 10 to 14 days.
In Savannah, Georgia Department of Transportation crews are surveying and inspecting the Talmadge Bridge ahead of cable replacement work scheduled to begin later this year. The maintenance project will install shorter cables and raise the bridge deck by up to 21 feet. The bridge is expected to remain open to traffic during construction, with work projected to finish in 2029 or 2030.
GPA will present its fiscal year 2026 performance, infrastructure investments and strategic outlook at the Savannah State of the Port event on Oct. 14 at the Savannah Convention Center.
About Georgia Ports Authority
The Georgia Ports Authority operates the ports of Savannah and Brunswick. Its planned investments in terminal capacity and transportation connections are intended to support future cargo growth. For more information, visit gaports.com or contact Tom Boyd, Chief Communications Officer, at tboyd@gaports.com or 912-964-3884.
