On September 17, Georgia Ports Authority held its annual State of the Port Address.

Pictured left to right are Governor Sonny Perdue, Doug Marchand, Executive Director, Curtis Foltz, Chief Operation Officer and Steve Green, Chair Board of Directors During the address, Doug Marchand, Executive Director, highlighted accomplishments of 2009 including that the Port of Savannah handled 2,404,965 TEUs, the second-highest container and tonnage volume in GPA’s history.

Also in 2009, the Port of Savannah experienced a 10.7-percent growth in refrigerated cargo, which has increased 85.2 percent during the past five years; Posted consistent, balanced trade with loaded export containers totaling 987,339 TEUs (50.8 percent) and loaded import containers totaling 955,759 TEUs (49.2 percent); Purchased four super post-Panamax cranes and 15 rubber-tired gantry cranes; and completed the Chatham Intermodal Container Transfer Facility (ICTF), making it the only single container facility on the U.S. East Coast with two on-terminal ICTFs.

Marchand also announced he will be stepping down as executive director, effective January, 1, 2010, and he will be replaced by current COO Curtis Foltz.