Wallenius Wilhelmsen Secures 20-Year Lease at Georgia’s Port of Brunswick

The Georgia Ports Authority and Wallenius Wilhelmsen have signed a 20-year terminal lease agreement consolidating the company’s handling of automobiles and roll-on/roll-off cargo at the Port of Brunswick.

The lease, which includes options for up to 30 years, sets the stage for expanded and upgraded facilities at Brunswick’s Colonel’s Island Terminal.

The long-term commitment will consolidate the company’s port and logistics operations at the Port of Brunswick, the nation’s second-busiest port for handling automobiles behind Baltimore, where operations are currently impacted by the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

The deal is expected to enhance Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s U.S. Southeast operations significantly.

The new deal will also provide assurance for manufacturers planning for the long term. Jamie McCurry, GPA Chief Administrative Officer, said the agreement will add a great deal of certainty to the supply chain and provide solid foundation for auto and machinery producers to expand their businesses in the U.S. Southeast and Midwest.

As part of the agreement, the Brunswick site will see the development of an additional 130 acres of Roll-on/Roll-off storage and several warehouses to cater to processing needs at Colonel’s Island. Another 300 acres are earmarked for future development.

“With the size and scope of our operations, Brunswick is an exceptional location, where we can provide all of our core services – ocean and inland transportation, vehicle and equipment processing, and terminal services,” said Mike Hynekamp, chief operating officer of Wallenius Wilhelmsen. “The company’s customers can have peace of mind knowing all their cargo moving through Brunswick is being managed by a single provider.”

The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) is close to completing a $262 million investment in the Port of Brunswick to expand its capacity and services for Ro/Ro cargo in anticipating of Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s long-term lease commitment.

GPA has received approval to construct a fourth berth for all Ro/Ro vessels, which will accommodate larger vessels with a capacity of 7,000-plus vehicles. The Port of Brunswick will also see harbor and waterway improvements, with over $6 million allocated by the state and nearly $38 million approved by Congress for various projects, including dredging and harbor expansion.

Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s expansion in Brunswick will include an equipment processing center (EPC) that can store, assemble, customize, and distribute machinery on behalf of equipment Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and their dealers. The facility will also offer assembly, refurbishment, and customizations for various types of construction, agricultural, and mining equipment.

“These state-of-the-art facilities allow us to work on our customers’ products in factory-like conditions that stand above any on-port setting,” says Mike Hynekamp, Chief Operating Officer, Logistics Services, Wallenius Wilhelmsen. “The upgraded facilities are purpose built to allow for the safe and efficient completion, storage, inspection and distribution of our customers’ products without the need to dray to an off-site location.

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