Georgia Ports secures federal permit for a $2.3 billion Savannah Container Terminal, boosting capacity to 12 million TEU by mid-2030s.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' approval clears the way for a $2.3 billion terminal on Hutchison Island, part of the Port of Savannah's plan to reach 12 million TEU of container capacity.
The Port of Savannah, which currently offers 7.75 million TEU of container capacity, has cleared a major regulatory milestone in its long-term expansion plans. At the Georgia Ports Authority's (GPA) annual State of the Port of Savannah event, President Kevin Price announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has approved the permit for the new Savannah Container Terminal after a three-year review process.
The approval allows Georgia Ports to move into the next stages of development for the 3.5 million TEU terminal. It also provides carriers, forwarders, and cargo owners with a clearer view of how capacity at one of the nation's busiest container gateways will grow over the next decade.
"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 Price.
The Savannah Container Terminal will occupy 350 acres on Hutchison Island in Savannah. Construction is scheduled to begin in January 2028, with completion expected in the mid-2030s. Once operational, the facility will handle the largest container ships.
Georgia Ports renderings show a three-berth Savannah Container Terminal alongside a two-berth Ocean Terminal across the river. Together, the two facilities will add five big-ship container berths to meet future demand.
At an estimated cost of $2.3 billion, the terminal is the latest step in an extensive infrastructure investment and renovation program. The program also includes a $1.6 billion upgrade to Ocean Terminal, which will raise its capacity from 200,000 TEU to 1.75 million TEU. The Ocean Terminal project is expected to be completed by the end of 2028.
For supply chain planners, the timeline matters. Ocean Terminal's added capacity will arrive first, followed by the larger Hutchison Island terminal in the mid-2030s. This phased approach gives forwarders, shippers, and importers a long runway to plan routing strategies, carrier commitments, and inventory flows through the U.S. Southeast with greater confidence.
GPA CEO Griff Lynch will retire on August 1, 2027, after 16 years with Georgia Ports. At the event, he cited the growth and expansion of the ports during his tenure. Since he joined GPA as Chief Operating Officer in 2011, the authority's performance has advanced on every major measure:
- Revenues: up 213%
- Container volumes: up 90%
- Roll-on/Roll-off volumes: up 60%
Lynch thanked Georgia Ports employees, the GPA Board of Directors, and past port leaders. He credited their decision-making, investment, and long-term vision with enabling the port to adapt to changing market conditions, grow, and commit to long-term investments.
He also thanked Governor Brian Kemp, Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives Jon Burns, the Georgia Legislature, and the other agencies whose partnership and support have 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," Lynch said.
GPA Chairman Alec Poitevint placed the permit within the authority's broader investment strategy. He described Georgia Ports' planned $5 billion investment in future port infrastructure as the largest in the nation. That commitment follows $4.13 billion invested in port and inland infrastructure over the last ten years.
"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 gives customers a reassuring roadmap, following our $4.13 billion investment over the last ten years in port and inland infrastructure. We play the long game here," said Poitevint.
The permit gives the market a concrete timeline for new capacity at Savannah. With Ocean Terminal due by the end of 2028 and the Savannah Container Terminal underway from January 2028, the port is positioning itself to absorb larger vessels and higher volumes well into the next decade.
For logistics providers building long-term service offerings and cargo owners seeking reliable gateway options, these projects represent more than added berths and acreage. They form a deliberate, multi-phase plan to reach 12 million TEU of capacity. Georgia Ports is not just expanding terminals; it is building the infrastructure to keep cargo moving through the Southeast for decades to come.