Two ports-related logistics companies presented the Maritime Logistics Education Taskforce with a check for $440.40 to support programs in logistics education. The funds were generated through a recycling effort of more than seven tons of corrugated cardboard.
“We are a green organization, and we believe in renewing resources wherever possible,” said Duane Newman, director of operational excellence for RBW Logistics.
“By teaming up with Port City Logistics we were able to use the funds towards educating students about career opportunities in the logistics industry. We anticipate generating further donations to MLET from our green initiative.”
The cardboard, remnants from a repackaging project at RBW Logistics was already slated for recycling, but haulage fees and labor would have created a wash for the company in terms of revenue generation. That’s where Port City Logistics stepped in. Already actively involved in MLET through the Follow the Container Program, Port City donated a truck and trailer to pick up and transport the paper for recycling. Through a business relationship with Georgia Pacific, they were able to get the material recycled.
The donation equates to $60 per ton, with funds going to support the Follow the Container program, which gives college and high school students a 360-degree overview of the logistics and transportation industry, and creates awareness of career opportunities throughout the supply chain.
“Port City Logistics has a long history of giving back to our community,” said Robert Dowd, chief market officer for the company.
“We believe any services and time that we are able to provide to the community will come back ten-fold.”
MLET accepted the donation under its parent organization, the Propeller Club-Port of Savannah, which is helping the taskforce manage donations until it has secured its own nonprofit filing status.
“This project is a true example of how the Savannah-area logistics providers work together to support a common cause,” said MLET chairman David Mihuta.
“By educating and inspiring students about the wealth of opportunities in their own backyard, we will create a stronger workforce, resulting in more job opportunities and economic development for our area.”
New cold storage open
Gulf States Cold Storage has opened its 100,000 square-foot cold storage facility serving the Port of Savannah. The site is capable of blast freezing up to four million pounds of cargo per week — a big plus for Georgia poultry farmers who export through Garden City Terminal.
The new facility — announced last year and located less than 10 miles from the port — currently employs 25 people. John Dean, vice president of sales and marketing, said Gulf States plans to add a second shift, boosting employment to 35-45 workers.
Gulf States already has plans for a dock extension and the addition of 85,000 square feet of frozen storage.
“With Gulf States already considering the expansion of warehouse space and adding a second shift, it is obvious port customers need that cold storage capacity,” said Curtis Foltz, GPA executive director.
While the blast freezing site will serve only export customers for now — most of it poultry — the company is talking with potential customers to add imported vegetables, fruit and seafood to its commodity portfolio, Dean said.
Supplied largely by Georgia farms, the Port of Savannah handles nearly 40 percent of the nation’s containerized poultry exports. Since 2006, refrigerated exports through the port have grown 130 percent. Last year alone, the GPA saw a 3.9 percent increase in refrigerated cargo exports, totaling nearly 108,000 twenty-foot equivalent container units.
“Right now, we have more demand for refrigerated warehousing than we have existing facilities. The GPA’s ongoing work to expand our on-terminal capacity for refrigerated cargo, along with private developments like Gulf States, will strengthen Georgia’s position in the marketplace,” Foltz said.
Senior business reporter Mary Carr Mayle covers the ports for the Savannah Morning News. She can be reached at 912-652-0324 or at mary.mayle@savannahnow.com.
SHIPPING SCHEDULE
These are the ships expected to call on Georgia Ports Authority’s Garden City and Ocean Terminals in the next week. Sailing schedules are provided by Georgia Ports Authority and are subject to change.
Terminal Ship name Arrival
GCT YM EFFICIENCY Today
GCT SEA-LAND CHAMPION Today
GCT PRAIA Today
GCT ZIM BARCELONA Today
GCT ISLANDIA Today
GCT MSC NURIA Today
GCT CSCL NEW YORK Today
GCT MOL PARTNER Saturday
GCT MIRAMARIN Saturday
GCT CMA CGM L’ETOILE Saturday
GCT EVER DIAMOND Saturday
GCT MARE ATLANTICUM Saturday
GCT WASHINGTON EXPRESS Saturday
GCT APL ANTWERP Saturday
GCT KOBE EXPRESS Sunday
GCT HANJIN MALTA Monday
GCT CGM UTRILLO Monday
GCT E.R. DENVER Monday
GCT APL CORAL Monday
GCT HYUNDAI GLORY Monday
GCT CMA CGM LA SCALA Monday
GCT MAERSK DETROIT Monday
GCT SEOUL EXPRESS Monday
OT UNICO SIENNA Monday
OT FAUST Monday
GCT NYK DIANA Tuesday
GCT YM MOBILITY Tuesday
GCT MOL ENCORE Tuesday
GCT ZIM QINGDAO Tuesday
GCT MUSTAFA DAYI Tuesday
GCT KRISTINA Tuesday
GCT HANJIN WILMINGTON Tuesday
OT TALISMAN Tuesday
GCT FOUMA Wednesday
GCT MOL PROGRESS Wednesday
GCT YM MARCH Wednesday
OT IOANNIS THEO Wednesday
GCT XIN ZHANG ZHOU Thursday
GCT ZIM SHANGHAI Thursday
GCT XIN DAN DONG Thursday
GCT VARAMO Thursday
GCT MAERSK IOWA Thursday
GCT RISIA ROTTERDAM Thursday
GCT HANJIN BUENOS AIRES Thursday
GCT MSC TORONTO Thursday
GCT XIN YING KOU Thursday
GCT YM KEELUNG Thursday
OT STAR KILIMANJARO Thursday