Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) is advancing a $44 million Savannah refrigerated exam site for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the Port of Savannah’s Garden City Terminal — an effort aimed at strengthening cold chain cargo solutions — as reported by Progressive Railroading.

Savannah refrigerated exam site set for spring opening
Photo: Georgia Ports Authority

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Savannah CBP refrigerated exam site plans and capacity

GPA expects the refrigerated exam facility to open in spring. It will place an on-terminal CBP and agricultural inspection site in a temperature-controlled setting designed for fresh produce. GPA said direct discharge service from vessels to the exam site is intended to reduce dwell time.

Don’t miss…CSX Willard Yard upgrades lift capacity at Ohio hub

The facility is planned with multiple rooms and multi-temperature inspection zones, sized for about 14 to 16 inspections per day and room for growth, according to a Georgia Ports Authority press release.

Seaboard Marine weekly service Savannah and regional links

The plan comes as Seaboard Marine has recently returned direct, weekly service to and from Savannah, Georgia. GPA said the first northbound ship arrived in Savannah on Jan. 7, and the first southbound vessel is scheduled to depart the city on Jan. 14. The Seaboard Marine service includes calls in Latin America and the Caribbean and provides transshipment connections to West Coast South America, as outlined in a Seaboard Marine service announcement.

“Seaboard Marine’s weekly Savannah calls will add new cold chain options to our customers’ Latin America and Caribbean supply chain competitiveness,” said Flavio Batista, Georgia Ports’ chief commercial officer, in a statement.

Port of Savannah rail access at Garden City Terminal

Alongside the ocean service and inspection capacity, the Port of Savannah has two on-dock rail yards. Those rail facilities are served by CSX and Norfolk Southern Railway.

News on railway transport, industry, and railway technologies from Railway Supply that you might have missed:

Don’t miss…Northstar train service ends as Amtrak Borealis grows

Find the latest news of the railway industry in Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and the rest of the world on our page on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, read Railway Supply magazine online.

Place your ads on webportal and in Railway Supply magazine. Detailed information is in Railway Supply media kit