Ro-ro carrier Wallenius Wilhelmsen and Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) have signed a 20-year terminal agreement consolidating the company’s port and logistics operations at the port of Brunswick.
Lasse Kristoffersen, ceo at Wallenius Wilhelmsen, said: “Our expansion and new long-term commitment in Brunswick strengthens our position as the preferred supply chain partner to North American automotive, equipment and breakbulk customers providing our complete package of market-leading end-to-end logistics services.”
The operations will be based at Colonel’s Island Terminal, where GPA is developing its infrastructure to cater for carriers handling autos and heavy machinery. GPA president and ceo Griff Lynch said: “This move is an important part of our two-pillar strategy, which calls for all ro-ro cargo to be located in Brunswick, and all container trade in Savannah.”
This strategy was confirmed in late 2022, with GPA planning to shift the majority of its breakbulk cargoes to the port of Brunswick to make way for renovation and realignment of the docks at the port of Savannah’s Ocean Terminal.
To increase capacity in Brunswick, meanwhile, GPA has developed an additional 130 acres (52.6 ha) of ro-ro storage and multiple warehouses to serve processing needs at Colonel’s Island. Another 300 acres (121.4 ha) are available for development.
Port officials said the 20-year contract allows manufacturers to plan for the long-term. GPA chief administrative officer Jamie McCurry explained: “Not only can customers depend on Wallenius Wilhelmsen as a full-service provider through the Brunswick gateway, the nature of our agreement adds a great deal of certainty to the supply chain. It’s a foundation on which auto and machinery producers can grow their business in the US Southeast and Midwest.”
Wallenius Wilhelmsen now has the ability to perform a variety of services in Brunswick, including assembly, refurbishment and customisations to a variety of different construction, agricultural and mining equipment. The facility will also include dedicated paint booths and wash bays to ensure machines are in the exact condition required by dealers and end customers. A new fumigation warehouse adjacent to the berths ensures biosecurity requirements are met for shipments to Oceania.
Mike Hynekamp, chief operating officer of Wallenius Wilhelmsen, said that the company will be able to provide all of its core services – ocean and inland transportation, vehicle and equipment processing, and terminal services, from Brunswick thanks to “the size and scope” of its operation there.
For breakbulk and project cargo, new dock upgrades and a state-of-the art 100,000 sq ft (9,290.3 sq m) warehouse provide short- and long-term storage at Mayor’s Point Terminal in Brunswick.
