Georgia Ports Authority hosted their annual State of the Port of Savannah event with President Kevin Price announcing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has approved the Savannah Container Terminal permit after a three-year review process.
“We’re excited about the Savannah Container Terminal’s role in our future growth and investment plans to take us to a 12 million TEU gateway container port, serving customers in Georgia and our nation with the best infrastructure in a high growth region,” said Mr. Price. Savannah’s current container capacity is 7.75 million TEU.
Georgia Ports will now proceed with the next steps in the development of the new 3.5 million TEU container terminal on Hutchison Island in Savannah. Construction starts in January 2028. When completed in the mid-2030s the 350-acre facility will be able to handle the largest container ships.
GPA CEO Griff Lynch, who will be retiring from his leadership role on August 1, 2027, after 16 years with Georgia Ports, cited the incredible growth and expansion of the ports during his tenure. From the time he joined GPA as Chief Operating Officer in 2011 until today as CEO, revenues have increased 213%, container volumes are up 90%, and Roll-on/Roll-off volumes are up 60%.
Mr. Lynch thanked the Georgia Ports employees, the GPA Board of Directors and past leaders of the port whose decision-making, investment and long-term vision enabled the port to adapt to changing market conditions, grow and make long-term investments.
He also thanked Governor Kemp, Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives, Jon Burns, the Georgia Legislature and all the other agencies whose partnership and support of Georgia Ports has been essential to the port’s trajectory and economic impact.
“We have been blessed with talented, dedicated people at GPA and with business partners who defined our service levels, enabling our customers to succeed and grow. I’m proud of our people, thankful for our customers and confident in the port and inland infrastructure we’ve built. We’re never done growing,” commented Mr. Lynch with a smile.
“Georgia has been chosen the best state to do business for 13 consecutive years. This environment combined with our port master plan is designed to create a better, stronger playbook for ports and supply chains. Our $5 billion investment in future port infrastructure is the largest in the nation and a reassuring roadmap to customers which comes on the heels of our $4.13 billion investment the last ten years in port and inland infrastructure. We play the long game here,” added Georgia Ports Authority Chairman Alec Poitevint.
The $2.3 billion Savannah Container Terminal is the latest step in an extensive infrastructure investment and renovation program which includes the $1.6 billion upgrade of the Ocean Terminal in the Port of Savannah from 200,000 TEUs capacity to 1.75 million TEUs, expected to be completed by the end of 2028.
Kevin Price, the future successor to Mr. Lynch, spoke about the future growth plans for port and inland capacity, sharing updates on Ocean Terminal, the Talmadge Bridge, the Savannah Harbor widening and deepening project and the Gainesville Inland Port. He thanked the Georgia Dept. of Transportation for their partnership and the multiple projects that strengthened the port’s growth with expanded freight corridors.
Supporting Communities
Mr. Price highlighted GPA’s community outreach efforts that strategically focus on developing the next generation of workers and supporting local nonprofits.
GPA’s YES+ program, launched in 2018, provides recent high school graduates with mentoring, apprenticeships and on-the-job experience, preparing participants for successful port careers.
GPA and its employees also maintain a decades-long partnership with the United Way of the Coastal Empire, pledging a record $661,000 in 2026 to support programs serving individuals and families throughout the five-county region.
The Future
President Price thanked the port’s maritime and business community as well as the Gateway Terminals and ILA partners. “What we’re discussing here today was not just about GPA’s future success but of the State of Georgia’s fastest growing gateway port in the nation. With the planned future capacity of 12 million TEU combined with improved access to inland markets, the Port of Savannah will continue to set the pace for American maritime infrastructure.”