It’s Arbor Day, and the Georgia Ports Authority will celebrate this morning by making a commitment to put dozens of historic trees located on GPA property under protective governance now and into the future.
“These massive live oaks located on GPA property are awe inspiring and have been here long before we were,” said GPA executive director Curtis Foltz.
“On National Arbor Day, the Georgia Ports Authority is making an official commitment to protect and preserve these natural and historic assets.”
The ceremony will take place at noon on Garden City Terminal.
About a dozen trees — all more than 200 years old — are located on GPA’s Garden City Terminal. Of those, the two oldest are estimated to each be more than 360 years old.
Local arborist Shannon Baughman said the GPA’s effort to protect the trees — including an avenue of oaks estimated to be more than 125 years old — is notable for its scope.
“It’s impressive to see so many trees of this age in one area,” Baughman said. “The oldest trees here are more than 100 years older than the celebrated Candler Oak in downtown Savannah.”
The two oldest trees are located at the Garden City Terminal off Ga. 25. The oldest is 92 inches in diameter and is estimated to have taken root in 1645. The second oldest is 91 inches in diameter and is estimated to have taken root in 1649. Baughman estimated each tree’s age based on its diameter.
Georgia Ports, one of only a few commercial areas in Savannah that hosts a large stand of mature oaks, maintains the trees with regular pruning and has had lightning protection installed on the oldest trees.
“Mature live oaks are very important to Savannah and our history,” Baughman said. “Promoting their health through proper care is essential. Protecting the trees from lightning strikes is an additional step to prolonging their lives.”
Four trees, one more than 250 years old, located next to the new container operations building were preserved during the building process, with the building repositioned from its original design to provide optimal growing conditions for the trees.
“Our mission is to grow our business in environmentally responsible ways,” said Foltz. “Protecting the tree canopy around the fourth busiest container port in the nation is just one project we’ve undertaken as part of our sustainability initiative.”
Georgia Ports board chairman Robert Jepson, who was expected to be on hand for the ceremony, echoed Foltz’s commitment, adding that, while GPA has tripled its container traffic over the past 10 years, it has also cut in half its emissions per container moved.
“This phenomenal business growth calls for proactive environmental strategies, and the Georgia Ports Authority will remain at the forefront of sustainable practices in the maritime industry,” Jepson said.
A hero lost
Sadly, Nick Craig’s name will be added to the list of recently lost mariners for whom the bell will toll next month when the Propeller Club of Savannah commemorates National Maritime Day on the river.
The unassuming war hero, who served on and captained several liberty ships during the all-important World War II Battle of the Atlantic, died last week at Hospice Savannah after a long battle with cancer.
A 1942 graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, he made five treacherous trips across the Atlantic on four different liberty ships — including the Savannah-built Samuel T. Darling — dodging German U-boats to bring critical supplies to Allied troops in Europe.
Craig, who retired to The Landings, was honored in February by the Propeller Club and profiled shortly after in this column.
To read his story, go to http://savannahnow.com/exchange/2013-02-22/savannah-mariner-had-front-ro....
Mary Carr Mayle covers the ports for Savannah Morning News and savannahnow.com. Reach her at 912-652-0324 or mary.mayle@savannahnow.com.
SHIPPING SCHEDULE
The following ships are expected to call on Georgia Ports’ Garden City and Ocean terminals in the next week. The schedule is provided by GPA and is subject to change.
TERMINAL SHIP ARRIVAL
GCT PRESIDENT ADAMS Today
GCT ISLANDIA Today
GCT MSC MICHAELA Today
OT GRANDE MAROCCO Today
GCT AL-MUTANABBI Saturday
GCT ADRIAN MAERSK Saturday
GCT NYK KAI Saturday
GCT WASHINGTON EXPRESS Saturday
GCT MSC LAURA Saturday
GCT WHITNEY Saturday
GCT MSC CATANIA Sunday
GCT ATLANTIC SIRIUS Sunday
OT ONSBERG Sunday
GCT BARGE B-201 Monday
GCT NYK CLARA Monday
GCT NYK DELPHINUS Monday
GCT MADRID EXPRESS Monday
GCT EVER DEVELOP Monday
GCT JULIETTE RICKMERS Monday
GCT MISENO Tuesday
GCT MSC LUCY Tuesday
GCT APL ARABIA Tuesday
GCT MAERSK DUBROVNIK Tuesday
GCT YM ENHANCER Wednesday
GCT HOECHST EXPRESS Wednesday
GCT ZIM RIO GRANDE Wednesday
GCT CONRAD S Wednesday
GCT MOL PROFICIENCY Wednesday
GCT APL OMAN Wednesday
GCT MUKADDES KALKAVAN Wednesday
GCT SEA-LAND EAGLE Wednesday
GCT MSC CHICAGO Wednesday
GCT HANJIN VALENCIA Wednesday
GCT LIONS GATE BRIDGE Wednesday
GCT VARAMO Thursday
GCT JPO CAPRICORNUS Thursday
GCT SCT ZURICH Thursday
GCT ZIM SHENZHEN Thursday
GCT BARGE B-201 Thursday
GCT MAERSK IDAHO Thursday
OT SAFMARINE SUMBA Thursday
OT ERMOUPOLIS Thursday
OT MARIE GRACE Thursday
OT BBC CONGO Thursday