The K Line vessel California Highway set sail for Russia and Ukraine Thursday, carrying the first Toyota Venzas exported through Georgia Port Authority’s Colonel’s Island Terminal at the Port of Brunswick.
“The export of American-built Venzas to Russia and Ukraine further solidifies Toyota’s commitment to establishing its U.S. manufacturing operations as a key supplier of vehicles for global markets,” said Corinne Akahoshi, national manager of marine logistics operations at Toyota Motor Sales, USA. Inc.
“We are proud to partner with the Georgia Ports Authority and all other parties involved and are grateful for their support of this initiative.”
The new Venzas are produced at the company’s Georgetown, Ky., plant, which employs about 6,600 people and represents a $6 billion investment. The Georgetown plant is the company’s largest manufacturing facility outside Japan.
Colonel’s Island is the nation’s third busiest autoport, handling 612,489 auto and machinery units in calendar year 2012.
“Toyota, a new client for the Georgia Ports Authority, joins 20 other domestic and foreign carmakers who use the Port of Brunswick,” said GPA executive director Curtis Foltz. “Increasingly, Brunswick is a critical gateway for American-made vehicles entering the global marketplace.”
Through March of the current fiscal year, Brunswick has handled 458,061 units of auto and machinery cargo, an increase of 18 percent over the 388,061 handled over the same period in the previous fiscal year.
International Auto Processing was instrumental in winning the Toyota business, and will serve as Toyota’s auto processor.
“Toyota’s decision to go with the Port of Brunswick is a testament to the level of service that auto manufacturers can expect here in Georgia,” said IAP President and CEO Robert Miller. IAP is the original auto processing company on Colonel’s Island, and its operations today encompass more than 200,000 square feet of processing facilities and 255 acres of storage and processing area on Colonel’s Island, with more than 200 employees.
The port has four other auto processors in addition to IAP.
Foltz honored
Also on Thursday, Foltz was honored with a Patriot Award from the Georgia Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves, an agency of the Department of Defense. Foltz received the award in recognition of his support of employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserves.
“The GPA greatly values all of its employees, especially those who are also devoted to defending and protecting our country,” said Foltz. “We will continue to recognize and support our country’s service members and their families.”
Foltz was nominated by GPA grants specialist Bruce Jones, who returned to his job in October after a stint on active duty with the U.S. Coast Guard.
Foltz also signed a statement in support of GPA’s 27 current employees who are members of the National Guard or Reserves.
GPA board chairman Bob Jepson said the guard and reserves, as well as active duty military, play an important role in maintaining the safety of trade lanes.
“Those who answer the call to military service protect not only our freedom but our ability to conduct global commerce,” he said.
For more information about Employer Support for the Guard and Reserves go to www.esgr.mil.
D.J. Powers opens new office
D.J. Powers Company, Inc., an international logistics provider headquartered in Savannah, has announced the opening of its newest branch office in Norfolk, Va.
“We are delighted to open the Norfolk office and continue to move forward with our strategic multi-phase plan to expand globally,” said company president and CEO Rhett Willis.
“Norfolk has always been a port of interest to us, and we have numerous clients currently using that port. This opening represents our commitment to our clients and confirmation of our continuing strategy of customer-driven growth,” he said.
“It also gives D.J. Powers and our customers another significant competitive advantage in major global markets.”
One of the oldest Georgia-based freight forwarders and customs brokerage firms, D.J. Powers celebrated 80 years in business in 2010. The company opened its European headquarters in Rotterdam in April of the same year, followed by its Shanghai, China, office in 2011.
The firm also has seven offices in the Southeast as well as a network of more than 175 affiliated offices worldwide.
D.J. Powers’ client base comprises a wide range of companies, from small and medium sized firms to Fortune 500 manufacturers with global operations. The company handles a wide variety of commodities, such as chemicals, machinery, frozen foods, vehicles, consumer goods and bulk minerals and are experienced in all modes of transport.
The firm provides fully computerized documentation, shipment tracking and data management and experienced oversight of shippers’ regulatory compliance requirements.
For more information, go to www.djpowers.com.
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 JPO CAPRICORNUS Today
GCT MUKADDES KALKAVAN Today
GCT SCT ZURICH Today
GCT BARGE B-201 Today
GCT MSC CHICAGO Today
GCT ABU DHABI Today
GCT SEASPAN HAMBURG Today
OT SALOME Today
OT BBC CONGO Today
OT MARIE GRACE Today
OT ERMOUPOLIS Today
GCT MOL PROFICIENCY Saturday
GCT CMA CGM MATISSE Saturday
GCT MSC LUDOVICA Saturday
GCT DUBAI EXPRESS Saturday
GCT EVER DAINTY Saturday
GCT PUSAN Saturday
GCT YORKTOWN EXPRESS Saturday
GCT BARGE B-201 Saturday
GCT OOCL CALIFORNIA Saturday
GCT MSC MESSINA Sunday
GCT HALIFAX EXPRESS Sunday
GCT CMA CGM SAMSON Sunday
GCT APL OMAN Sunday
GCT ZIM PIRAEUS Monday
GCT GENOA EXPRESS Monday
GCT YM ETERNITY Monday
GCT CONTI HARMONY Monday
OT SAFMARINE SUMBA Monday
GCT MSC TOMOKO Tuesday
GCT RIO THELON Tuesday
GCT NYK RIGEL Tuesday
GCT MAERSK DANBURY Tuesday
GCT MOL ENDOWMENT Tuesday
OT BAHRI ABHA Tuesday
OT DIAMOND QUEEN Tuesday
OT ATLANTIC ELAND Tuesday
GCT ZIM QINGDAO Wednesday
GCT SEA-LAND RACER Wednesday
GCT MSC STELLA Wednesday
GCT MOL PARAMOUNT Wednesday
GCT FOUMA Wednesday
GCT HYUNDAI GRACE Wednesday
GCT GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE Wednesday
GCT HANJIN SHANGHAI Wednesday
OT TUGELA Wednesday
OT CARMEN Wednesday
GCT MAERSK DRUMMOND Thursday
GCT MAERSK ROUBAIX Thursday
GCT CMA CGM JAMAICA Thursday
GCT CSAV LLANQUIHUE Thursday
GCT UASC JEDDAH Thursday
GCT OOCL SHANGHAI Thursday
OT STAR KIRKENES Thursday