If you recently noticed a sea of bright yellow and green construction equipment crowding the dock at Ocean Terminal, you probably thought it was just one of many regular shipments that British heavy equipment giant JCB sends overseas from its North American headquarters and manufacturing plant in Pooler.
But this shipment was different. It was, in fact, the largest ever single-vessel shipment of machines to the United States from JCB’s global headquarters in England.
“This recent shipment represents more than $30 million of construction and agricultural equipment, demonstrating JCB’s continued growth and investment in North America,” said Ken Bianco, vice president of commercial operations for JCB North America.
“Despite the decline in many construction markets globally, the North American market remains buoyant, with our core end-use markets growing by more than 11 percent in 2014.”
Bianco said JCB views 2015 as a critical “step change” year in which the company looks to accelerate growth in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
“Not only are we importing machines from the UK, we’re also producing a full range of skid steer loaders, compact track loaders and 3CX backhoe loaders right here in Savannah for global export via Georgia’s ports.”
Auto and machinery shipper Wallanius Wilhelmsen delivered the new machines in mid-January on the vessel Honor. They have been undergoing inspections and final configurations in preparation for shipment to customers.
“As JCB celebrates 15 years of business in Savannah, shipments such as this continue to show our investment and dedication to growth in North America,” said Arjun Mirdha, president and CEO of JCB Inc.
“With partners such as the Georgia Ports Authority, JCB is able to continually use those investments to also support the local community.”
Container yard opens
CenterPoint Properties has completed a build-to-suit container yard for KW International, a global third-party logistics provider, at the CenterPoint Intermodal Center off Dean Forest Road.
KW International began operations on the 3.1-acre site at the first of the year.
The yard’s location just miles from the Georgia Ports Authority and within minutes of interstates 95 and 16 makes it the ideal location for goods distribution, said Matt Yang of CenterPoint.
“We’re pleased to welcome KW International and believe that, by locating the container yard within the intermodal park, the company will enjoy access to a broad range of clients coming to and from the ports,” he said.
The facility includes a 900-square-foot office, 105 trailer parking stalls and parking for 12 cars.
“CenterPoint Intermodal Center is strategically located only four miles from the port’s Garden City Terminal gates and near one of our largest automotive clients, which provides reduced transportation-related expenses and increases our ability to move products quickly and efficiently,” said William K. Jin, president and CEO of KW Companies Inc.
“CenterPoint was able to develop a customized container yard that provides excellent access to transportation modes surrounding our building, helping to improve our supply chain.”
MLET internships going strong
McLeod Rominger, one of the founding members of the Maritime Logistics Education Taskforce, reports that the group’s third annual internships are getting underway, with 15 local business partners taking on 20 students, an increase from last year’s 14 businesses/16 students mix.
“For the second year in a row, we are drawing from both Chatham County and Effingham County school systems,” Rominger said. “And this year, we have added our first two students from Savannah Technical College.”
Business partners new to the program this year are American Packing and Crating (APC), Home Depot and Thunderbolt Marine. Signing on for the second year are DJ Powers Co., Expeditors International, Fulfillment.com, JIT Warehousing & Logistics, Nordic Cold Storage, Pier 1 and Willis Logistics.
Original business partners participating for the third year are HWC Logistics/Hartfield Warehouse Corp., JCB Inc., John S. James Co., Matson Logistics and Port City Logistics.
People and companies volunteering include David Mihuta of Freightliner of Savannah, Alexus Woods and Elizabeth Hill of the John S. James Co., Pat Yovich of First Class Marketing, Kaisa White of Image Hotels, Reggie Sykes, Tom Wright, The Georgia Ports Authority, PHRM Holdings, Savannah Tech, and Sullivan Staffing.
Following are the ships expected to call on Georgia Ports Authority’s Garden City and Ocean terminals this week. Schedules are supplied by GPA and are subject to change.
TERMINAL VESSEL ETA
GCT MAERSK HARTFORD: Today
GCT MAERSK KARLSKRONA: Today
GCT DALIAN EXPRESS: Today
GCT BARGE B31: Today
GCT HANJIN KINGSTON: Today
GCT MSC ILONA: Today
GCT CMA CGM TARPON: Saturday
GCT CMA CGM FLORIDA: Saturday
GCT CLASSICA: Saturday
GCT CMA CGM TANCREDI: Saturday
GCT SEA LAND MERCURY: Saturday
GCT XIN NAN SHA: Saturday
GCT VANCOUVER EXPRESS: Sunday
GCT MSC CHICAGO: Sunday
GCT EVER LISSOME: Sunday
GCT PHILADELPHIA EXPRESS: Sunday
GCT MAERSK PITTSBURGH: Monday
GCT MAERSK KOTKA: Monday
GCT MSC ALESSIA: Monday
GCT AL RAWDAH: Monday
GCT MAERSK KALAMATA: Monday
GCT ZIM BARCELONA: Monday
GCT GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE: Monday
GCT ZIM LUANDA: Tuesday
GCT APL PEARL: Tuesday
GCT MOL ENCORE: Tuesday
GCT MOL EXPRESS: Tuesday
GCT ALBERT MAERSK: Tuesday
GCT MSC BUSAN: Tuesday
GCT VALENCIA BRIDGE: Tuesday
GCT SHIPPAN ISLAND: Wednesday
GCT HANJIN ATLANTA: Wednesday
GCT ZIM SAVANNAH: Thursday
GCT RHL AGILITAS: Thursday
GCT ORCA I: Thursday
GCT GLEN CANYON BRIDGE: Thursday
GCT MOL MAESTRO: Thursday
OT TOSCA Saturday
OT MANDARIN EAGLE Saturday
OT UNIVERSAL BARCELONA Saturday
OT STAR HARMONIA Sunday
OT ELAR TRADER Sunday
OT INCA QUEEN Sunday
OT CARMEN Monday
OT BAHRI ABHA Tuesday
OT STAR KVARVEN Wednesday
OT ASIAN KING Wednesday
OT GRANDE MAROCCO Wednesday