New Joint Venture Stevedoring Company Promises Streamlined Services at Port of Savannah

The Port of Savannah on Monday marked the first cargo handled under a new joint venture stevedoring company that will streamline cargo activities at the port.

Known as Gateway Terminals, the company combines Ports America, Ceres Marine Terminals, and SSA Atlantic into a single joint venture entity, consolidating container terminal, truck gate and stevedoring services at the port.

“This is an exciting opportunity to coordinate and bring together three great companies and a best-of-class [International Longshoremen’s Association] operation into a world-class team,” said Kevin Price, president of Gateway Terminals. “Bringing together three organizations under one umbrella provides a compelling opportunity for growth, especially in light of the tremendous increase in demand for services from Georgia Ports.”

In part, Gateway will manage the operation of loading and unloading vessels, including hiring longshoremen crews on behalf of the shipping lines, planning vessel stowage and overseeing cargo handling safety. The Port of Savannah serves 36 vessels per week and averages 14,000 truck moves per day.

“At the Port of Savannah, the hardworking men and women of the International Longshoremen’s Association work hand-in-hand with our stevedores and the Georgia Ports Authority to make sure our customers receive world-class service,” said Willie Seymore, executive vice president for the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast division of the ILA. “We’re excited to collaborate with Gateway Terminals at the start of this new era of port operations.”

“Benefits for port customers include integrated operations across all berths, providing the ability to turn more ships and move more cargo,” said GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch. “This improved efficiency and collaboration is coming at the perfect time, in light of the sustained increase in cargo volumes over the past year and a half.”

Already the third busiest U.S. port complex, Garden City Terminal has the potential to significantly increase throughput as a result of the consolidation, according to the GPA.

“We look forward to assisting Gateway’s efforts in this important transition,” said Ed McCarthy, chief operating officer at GPA. “Unified stevedoring services will help maximize flexibility and bring together a world-class operating team at the nation’s single largest container terminal.”

The Port of Savannah handled nearly 500,000 TEU in November, marking 16 consecutive months of record growth.

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