Yesterday was the first tour of the Georgia Port Authority to discuss and explain to those interested in the river deepening project and how it will affect container traffic after the completion of the Panama Canal (Panamax) in 2014. It is obvious that there are environmental issues to be taken into consideration with such an undertaking. After all, our aquifer, which is vital for our supply of drinking water, lies right beneath the river.
Any breach would negatively affect not only our drinking water but also our fresh water marshes upriver. Besides asking pertinent questions about the environmental impact, the tour participants had the opportunity to get a first and up-close look of what a post Panamax jumbo container ship really looks like. Locals and tourists are very familiar with the current containerships sailing in and out of our harbor on a daily basis, carrying about 2,000 to 3,000 TEUs (20 foot equivalent units). This in and of itself is already reason for anyone on River Street to stand still and watch in awe how this huge mass of steel and goods maneuvers through our waterway like a prima ballerina on stage. But when they laid eyes on the post Panamax jumbo container ship, docked at the Ocean Terminal right next to its “regular” cousin, then all were really awestruck and probably thought what a sight this would be if seen from River Street after 2014. These jumbo ships carry about three times the volume of the current versions.One does not need a calculator to determine how that would impact the annual container volume at the GPA, but here is a simple number just for our imagination. Currently, the GPA moves about 2.2 million TEUs each year. After 2014, an annual volume of 5 million is well within reach and probably conservative in nature.
But this all depends of course on the deepening of the river. Our current depth stands at 42 feet, but the jumbo container ships have a drag of 46 feet, hence the proposal to dredge and deepen the river to 48 feet. Let us also not forget that Savannah is the only East Coast harbor that is tide regulated. Ships will plan their voyage as such or stay within the approach shipping lanes off our coast until the tide is high enough to sail upriver. This is due to the shallowness of the ocean bottom right of our coast, a problem that our competitors, Norfolk and NY/NJ, do not have to maneuver around or deal with. With funds secured and appropriated during the last General Assembly, the start of the project is now only subject to the latest report and findings of studies conducted since 1996. The future for the GPA looks brighter every day and the economic future of the Low Country as well as the State of Georgia looks even brighter. Known already for its expertise in logistics, Georgia will become THE place of choice for importers, exporters and distributors and that does not even include the attraction for manufacturing jobs.
Source: examiner, May 3, 2010; Image:Flickr, February 17,2008
