Last week I noted that — after nearly 15 years — the stars seemed to be aligning to green-light the deepening of the Savannah harbor from 42 to 47 feet.
This week it seems the momentum is gathering strength.
According to Chris Clark in U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston’s Washington office, a key House committee on Wednesday unveiled legislation that would clear the way for the long-stalled project.
The Water Resources Reform and Development Act, released by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, authorizes the final steps necessary to deepen the harbor to accommodate the larger container ships that will soon transit the Panama Canal.
“For too long, this project has been tied up in bureaucratic red tape,” said Kingston, a Georgia Republican.
“After 14 years and the most extensive study of the Savannah River estuary, we know we can complete this project in an environmentally sound manner.”
The project is also good for the nation, he said, adding that every dollar invested in the project will yield $5.50 in economic benefits.
“This has been a long, bipartisan fight and one that has really been a team effort,” Kinston said. “I want to thank Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) and ranking Committee member Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) for their commitment to this project.”
The bill must now go to the full House for approval, then back to the Senate.
Shuster is scheduled to visit the port in October and co-host a fundraiser for Kingston’s 2014 bid for the U.S. Senate.
Kingston wasn’t the only one in the nation’s capital with Georgia on his mind Wednesday.
As part of its “Let’s Rebuild America” initiative, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce released “Waterways Work for Georgia,” a fact sheet highlighting the importance and contributions of Georgia’s marine transportation system to supply chains and the economic vitality of the state.
Janet Kavinoky, the chamber’s executive director of transportation and infrastructure, said passage of the Water Resources Act “would kick-start strategic investment in ports and waterways in Georgia and across the country, increase American competitiveness and create jobs nationally and in the Peach State.
“Failure to invest in our nation’s waterways will drive up transportation costs and increase prices for businesses and consumers,” she said.
Georgia’s waterways and ports system supports 72,850 jobs and contributes $11.8 billion to the state’s economy, according to the report.
“This system safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively transports $57.8 billion worth of manufactured goods, $9.9 billion worth of basic chemicals and $5.7 billion worth of agricultural and food products,” the report reads. “Without proper investment, fewer jobs will be created or sustained, and millions of dollars will be lost.”
Ocean Exchange on horizon
Now in its third year, Savannah’s Ocean Exchange is really coming into its own, according to Cort Atkinson, co-founder and CEO of the unique program that brings experts and advocates from around the world to Savannah for three days to talk about problems facing the world’s oceans and coasts.
The program is focused on advancing solutions to ocean issues, with several large monetary awards — provided by global shipping and supply chain giant Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics and Gulfstream Aerospace — for the winning solutions.
“After only two years, the solutions finalists from 2011 and 2012 have been doing very well,” Atkinson told the board of the Georgia International and Maritime Trade Center Authority at its meeting Wednesday at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center.
In fact, 2011’s winner, The Wave Glider — an ocean-going vehicle that harvests information from the environment while traveling over vast areas without need for fuel — was recently awarded $45 million in grants, Atkinson said.
“The Ocean Exchange has really opened doors for them.”
This year’s Ocean Exchange conference begins Sept. 29 at the Trade Center.
For more information, go to www.savannahoceanexchange.org.
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 MOL PRESENCE Today
GCT PAGO Today
GCT MESSOLOGI Today
GCT UASC JEDDAH Today
GCT MAERSK DANANG Today
OT GRANDE GABON Today
GCT EVER DIADEM Saturday
GCT NEW DELHI EXPRESS Saturday
GCT HOUSTON EXPRESS Saturday
GCT INA THERESA Saturday
GCT SC ILONA Saturday
GCT YM SEATTLE Saturday
GCT WASHINGTON EXPRESS Saturday
GCT SEOUL EXPRESS Sunday
GCT OOCL VANCOUVER Sunday
GCT CLEMENTINE MAERSK Monday
GCT ZIM HAIFA Monday
GCT NAJRAN Monday
GCT HYUNDAI GRACE Monday
GCT MAERSK ATLANTA Monday
GCT NYK NEBULA Monday
GCT NYK JOANNA Monday
OT PACIFIC CYPRESS Monday
GCT ZIM LUANDA Tuesday
GCT NEDLLOYD TASMAN Tuesday
GCT MUKADDES KALKAVAN Tuesday
GCT BUXCOAST Tuesday
GCT APL QATAR Tuesday
GCT ATLANTA EXPRESS Tuesday
GCT HANJIN VALENCIA Tuesday
OT STAR HANSA Tuesday
GCT JO ILEX Wednesday
GCT SHIPPAN ISLAND Wednesday
GCT MOL PROFICIENCY Wednesday
GCT ZIM SHENZHEN Thursday
GCT MAERSK IOWA Thursday
GCT ISLANDIA Thursday
GCT MAERSK ROUBAIX Thursday
GCT MSC CARMEN Thursday
GCT MSC BUSAN Thursday
GCT VECCHIO BRIDGE Thursday
GCT LIONS GATE BRIDGE Thursday