Busy Georgia vehicle port continues expansion with new paving, waterway projects

The nation’s second-busiest port for roll-on/roll-off (Ro/Ro) vehicle shipping in Brunswick, Georgia, is getting upgrades to its storage space and harbor area sought by carmakers. The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) Board has approved an additional 50 acres of pavement to handle the growing volume of trade at the Colonel’s Island Terminal.

“The combination of space to grow, global and domestic reach, and quality of service make the Port of Brunswick the nation’s premier gateway for Ro/Ro trade,” GPA President and CEO Griff Lynch said. “With the significant infrastructure investments we’re making at the nation’s largest auto port, GPA is prepared to handle future growth from new and existing customers. This move comes in response to requests from auto manufacturers seeking to expand their cargo volumes through Georgia.”

The increased capacity will be ready for summer 2025 and follows a recent expansion of more than 120 acres at the terminal.

“Capacity enhancements approved by the board… will complement the $262 million in auto storage and warehousing recently added at Colonel’s Island — as well as important federal projects planned for Brunswick Harbor,” GPA Board Chairman Kent Fountain said. “With more than 200 additional acres for expansion, no other Roll-on/Roll-off port in the nation has the ability to scale up its operation like Brunswick.”

Colonel’s Island had a record year in Ro/Ro cargo for the 12 months ending in June, processing 876,000 units of vehicles and heavy machinery — a 21% increase over fiscal 2023 — buoyed by strong demand from U.S. consumers, expanding trade with Europe and Asia, the arrival of new car manufacturers in Brunswick, and diverted cargo from Baltimore in April and May.

Some 300 acres remain available for further expansion, providing more growth potential than any other U.S. auto port. In addition to the 120 acres paved in fiscal 2023, the GPA added 640,000 square feet of warehousing and processing space, boosting Colonel’s Island’s annual capacity by 40% to 1.4 million units.

The terminal upgrades will be accompanied by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects to improve Brunswick Harbor.

The Port of Brunswick will benefit from nearly $38 million in federal funding for maintenance dredging and harbor improvements, as part of legislation passed in March. Of this amount, $26.6 million will go toward restoring the federal waterway to its full authorized depth, with dredging operations slated to begin later this year.

An additional $11.35 million in federal funding, along with $6 million in state funds, has been allocated to the Corps’ Brunswick Harbor Improvements project. Aiming to increase the safety and efficiency of vessel navigation through the river channel, the harbor improvement plan includes creating a wider area for vessels to pass each other, enlarging a bend in the river, and expanding the turning basin to facilitate ship docking at Colonel’s Island.

Photo courtesy Joellen82