Brunswick Becomes USA’s Busiest RoRo Port, Handling Over 2 Million Tons

Colonel’s Island Terminal at the Port of Brunswick has become the nation’s leading hub for Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) cargo, handling over 2 million tons of vehicles and heavy equipment in 2024, according to Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) President and CEO Griff Lynch.

Lynch said that more than 90% of the autos transported by rail at Colonel’s Island are U.S.-made exports, demonstrating the terminal’s growing importance for the automotive industry at the Brunswick State of the Port event.

Brunswick also secured the top spot for RoRo exports in the U.S., moving 600,000 tons in 2023, as reported by USATradeOnline.

Brunswick handled 901,912 units of autos and heavy equipment in 2024, marking a 13.3% increase in automobile shipments and a 160% rise in heavy equipment movement.

This surge is attributed to GPA’s investment in specialised storage and processing space, which has enhanced operational efficiency.

GPA completed $262 million in infrastructure upgrades at the Port of Brunswick in 2024. The improvements included new warehousing, additional processing space, and 122 acres of expanded RoRo cargo storage.

It has begun construction on a new railyard at Colonel’s Island and is advancing plans for a fourth RoRo berth, which is currently in the engineering phase.

Kent Fountain, GPA Board Chairman, said that their goal is to create the world’s leading RoRo port by improving key infrastructure elements, including shipping channels, berths, rail capacity, and storage facilities. These enhancements aim to provide customers with scalable, long-term growth opportunities.

A major focus is on expanding rail capacity. The new south-side railyard at Colonel’s Island Terminal will increase export capacity for vehicles arriving by rail, while upgrades to the existing Myd Harris Yard will streamline rail switching operations. This will also reduce traffic congestion in the surrounding community.

Lynch said that the railyard expansion will improve connections to inland auto factories, making rail transport a more cost-effective alternative to trucks for moving cargo to the Georgia coast.

The first phase of the project will boost annual rail capacity from 150,000 to over 340,000 autos by mid-2025, while Phase II will further increase it to 590,000 units, more than tripling the current capacity.

Meanwhile, GPA is preparing for the construction of a fourth RoRo berth, expected to start in Summer 2025 and be completed by 2027. The new berth will accommodate larger RoRo vessels, with a capacity of over 10,800 car equivalent units (CEU) per ship.

GPA is also strengthening relationships with key logistics partners. In April 2024, GPA signed a 20-year agreement with Wallenius Wilhelmsen (WW), consolidating the company’s Georgia logistics operations at the Port of Brunswick.

Under this agreement, WW’s expanded Brunswick facility will handle not only RoRo processing but also heavy equipment order fulfilment, including custom machinery configurations before delivery.

Lynch stated that GPA’s two-port strategy, which designates Brunswick for RoRo cargo and Savannah for container trade, allows both ports to specialise and operate more efficiently.

Brunswick’s enhanced infrastructure, improved connectivity, and expanded processing capacity make it an attractive location for RoRo customers like Wallenius Wilhelmsen and International Auto Processing, helping them pursue new business opportunities.

Several market trends indicate continued growth for Brunswick. Automobile exports increased by 9% in 2024, while imports rose by 20% compared to 2023.

Lynch pointed out that manufacturing expansion and population growth in the U.S. Southeast are driving higher trade volumes through Brunswick.

Another key factor is the shift toward larger RoRo vessels. Currently, most RoRo carriers operate ships in the 4,000 to 8,000 CEU range, but industry trends suggest that 10,800 CEU vessels will become more common in the next two to three years.

Lynch explained that these larger ships will visit fewer ports while carrying greater cargo volumes, making Brunswick’s 1,700-acre Colonel’s Island Terminal an ideal location due to its size, efficiency, and handling capacity.

GPA is working with federal and state authorities to improve Brunswick’s shipping channel and harbor infrastructure to accommodate the next generation of RoRo vessels.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and the state legislature have allocated over $6 million for harbour improvements, which will be managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. These upgrades include:

– Bend widening and an expanded turning basin to facilitate the movement of larger vessels.
– An expanded vessel meeting area at St. Simons Sound* to improve navigational safety in two-way traffic zones.

Congress has also approved $38 million in funding for Brunswick, including:
$11.35 million for the harbour improvement project.
$26.6 million for dredging the federal waterway to maintain depths of 36 feet in the inner harbour and 38 feet in the outer harbour.

Reference: GAPorts
 

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