Georgia officials, including U.S. Rep. Sam Graves and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, have received key congressional endorsements for a federal study on whether the shipping channel to the Port of Savannah should be deepened again. The previous expansion of the harbor was completed in 2022 and cost nearly $1 billion, adding 5 feet of depth to the Savannah River connecting the port to the Atlantic Ocean. The Georgia Ports Authority has been advocating for another round of deepening the shipping channel to accommodate larger cargo ships with full loads during lower tides.
Savannah is the fourth busiest U.S. seaport for cargo shipped in containers, handling 4.9 million container units of imports and exports in the 2023 calendar year. The existing port infrastructure is already strained by the increasing size of cargo ships, with a growing percentage of ships needing to wait for higher tides to reach the port. Georgia’s Democratic senators and House members have joined in supporting the authorization for a study on expanding the port, recognizing the need for continued growth and improvement in the state’s shipping capabilities.
Feasibility studies for the previous harbor expansion project began in 1997, and it took nearly two decades to complete the project. Despite this history, Georgia Ports Authority CEO Griff Lynch is optimistic that a new study and potential expansion could be completed within 10 years, expediting the process compared to the previous project. U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter emphasized the need for continuous progress, stating that standing still is akin to moving backward, highlighting the importance of moving forward with the study and potential expansion plans.
The proposed study to deepen the shipping channel to the Port of Savannah is part of the 2024 Water Resources Development Act, which Graves is hoping to bring before the full House for a vote in the summer. The project would be a long process, involving the Army Corps of Engineers overseeing navigation projects in U.S. waterways. The support from key congressional figures and Georgia officials indicates a strong commitment to improving and expanding the port infrastructure to meet the demands of an evolving shipping industry.
Georgia’s push for another round of deepening Savannah’s shipping channel reflects the importance of the port as a critical gateway for cargo transportation in the United States. With bipartisan support from Georgia’s congressional representatives and key endorsements from Rep. Sam Graves and other officials, the necessary groundwork is being laid for the potential expansion. The planned study and subsequent potential harbor expansion aim to address the current limitations in accommodating larger cargo ships and ensure continued growth and efficiency at the Port of Savannah.
