Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Calling the Port of Savannah critical to the region’s economy as well as essential to national security, Under Secretary of the Army Joseph Westphal concluded an aerial tour of Georgia Ports Authority facilities Wednesday by telling reporters a deepened harbor “will create jobs, help small businesses and strengthen our ability to move products.”
The Army’s second-highest ranking civilian leader, Westphal said this was his first visit to the Savannah port since the project began some 15 years ago.
“Clearly, a project of this magnitude takes time — for planning and design, for mitigation and for funding,” he said. “But Congress and the president wouldn’t be making this kind of investment if this deepening wasn’t vital to our economy.”
Westphal also stressed the importance of the port as one of a handful of deepwater gateways nationwide designated to move military equipment and supplies overseas.
“As the under secretary of the Army, I place a great deal of importance on our ability to deploy our troops and equipment rapidly and effectively. The president, as commander-in-chief, needs to be able to call on the Army at any time and expect an immediate response.
“We have a strong military presence in this area and it’s vital that we be able to get all our equipment from Fort Stewart and Hunter here quickly, deploy it rapidly and get it where it needs to be,” he said.
While most of the actual deepening process must await congressional funding approval through the Water Resources Development Act currently moving through the U.S. House, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Georgia Ports Authority have been busy getting ready for that green light, he said.
“Because we are waiting for that approval, the Corps has had time to work on mitigation plans and designs, work on contract drafts and land acquisition.”
“Hopefully, we’ll get this done over the next few years, and then we’ll begin to see the very positive impact on our nation’s economy,” Westphal said.
Georgia Ports’ executive director Curtis Foltz agreed.
“For our nation’s continued economic health and the success of the National Export Initiative, it’s crucial that we move forward with the Savannah Harbor expansion,” Foltz said.
