Latest Project Expands Vehicle Storage Capacity
What’s the next move for a port that has just added 120 paved acres to boost its roll-on/roll-off (ro/ro) vehicle operations? For the Port of Brunswick, Georgia, the answer is simple: add another 50 acres.
The Georgia Ports Authority Board recently approved this expansion, which will enhance vehicle storage capacity at Brunswick. This strategic decision aims to better accommodate the growing trade throughput at Colonel’s Island Terminal.
“The combination of space for growth, both global and domestic reach, along with our high-quality service, positions the Port of Brunswick as the premier gateway for ro/ro trade in the nation,” stated Griff Lynch, President and CEO of the Georgia Ports Authority, in a recent release. “With significant infrastructure investments underway at the country’s largest auto port, we are well-prepared to meet the rising demands from both new and existing customers. This expansion comes in response to requests from automotive manufacturers looking to increase their cargo volumes through Georgia.”
Major automakers like Hyundai, Kia, and Mercedes-Benz, along with several automotive components manufacturers, have production facilities located in Georgia. Notably, Mercedes-Benz operates an auto processing terminal at Brunswick.
The newly approved expansion of auto processing capacity, discussed during the GPA’s meeting on September 24, is scheduled to come online in the summer of 2025. This follows the recent addition of over 120 acres, part of a $262 million investment aimed at enhancing auto storage and warehousing at Colonel’s Island.
Brunswick has over 200 additional acres available for future expansion when further scaling becomes necessary. In fiscal 2024, which concluded in June, Colonel’s Island Terminal managed more than 870,000 units of ro/ro cargo, surpassing the Port of Baltimore, which handled 847,000 vehicles on 710 acres in 2023.
Additionally, Brunswick is set to receive nearly $38 million in federal funding for maintenance dredging and harbor improvements through recent legislation passed by Congress. This includes $26.6 million aimed at restoring the federal waterway to its full authorized depth, with dredging efforts from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expected to commence in late 2024.
Furthermore, an additional $11.35 million in federal funding, coupled with $6 million in state funds, has been allocated for the Corps’ Brunswick Harbor Improvements project. This plan includes expanding the area for vessel navigation, a bend widening project, and an enlarged turning basin for ships arriving at Colonel’s Island.
In August, the combined ro/ro cargo handled at Georgia’s Brunswick and Savannah ports reached 74,630 units, reflecting a 21.4% increase—equivalent to an additional 13,175 units—compared to the same month last year.
