Georgia Ports Authority Plans Nearly $5 Billion Investment Over Ten Years to Expand Ports

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On November 10, the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) unveiled a nearly $5 billion port infrastructure investment plan for the next decade, focusing on expanding the container terminal at the Port of Savannah and the roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) automobile transport facilities at the Port of Brunswick. The plan includes adding five large-vessel berths at the Port of Savannah, while the Port of Brunswick is building its fourth RoRo berth, which is already 60% complete and expected to enter operation in December 2027.

The Port of Brunswick is a key RoRo gateway for automobiles in the United States, handling finished vehicle imports, exports, port storage, vehicle processing and regional distribution. The port currently has three RoRo berths and received 50 vessels in October 2026. The fourth berth under construction, located on Colonel's Island, will increase capacity to accommodate large car carriers, including next-generation RoRo vessels capable of carrying more than 10,800 car equivalent units (CEU) per ship, and will shorten vessel turnaround times.

The Port of Savannah primarily handles containerized transport of auto parts and supporting equipment. About 40 vessel calls are made at the port each week, and it processes approximately 15,000 truck gate transactions per day. Its Mason Mega Rail on-terminal rail facility operates 42 double-stack container trains per week, connecting to U.S. inland markets via Norfolk Southern and CSX railways. The finished-vehicle RoRo transport at the Port of Brunswick and the parts container transport at the Port of Savannah form a division of labor, with the two ports jointly handling ocean-side receiving and inland distribution for the automotive supply chain.

Port business growth is closely tied to automotive manufacturing investment in Georgia. Hyundai Motor Group's automotive plant under construction in Ellabell near Savannah covers approximately 3,000 acres and has already attracted 22 suppliers to the surrounding area; Kia operates a U.S. manufacturing base in West Point, while BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo use the Port of Brunswick to transport and process finished vehicles. Audi previously announced plans to invest $4 billion in its first U.S. automotive manufacturing plant near Macon, with construction expected to begin in 2027.

The Georgia Ports Authority disclosed that over the past decade its board has approved $4.13 billion in infrastructure improvement investments. The nearly $5 billion plan for the next decade will be self-funded by the Ports Authority and, in addition to the container berth expansion at the Port of Savannah and the fourth RoRo berth at the Port of Brunswick, will also be used for subsequent infrastructure upgrades across the port network.