Channel deepening of the Savannah River shipping channel that links Savannah’s busy seaport to the ocean has been completed 6 and a half years after the dredging began. But many a thing has changed over the 6.5 years that passed by. Despite the USD 973 Mn in spending and achieving what has been envisaged in 2015, times have changed and the scenario is much different in the shipping sector today in 2022. The shipping companies are pushing seaports beyond their limits. What Airbus did to airports around the world then, Maersk, Evergreen, MSC and the likes are doing to the seaports around the world now. Box ships capable of carrying 20,000+ TEU containers need a draft of 18-22 meters to call at these ports. Ports need to morph themselves into MEGA ports to accommodate these ships.
There is a race to increase the seaports in size and capacity which is commendable, but what if the terminals cannot keep up with requirements for berthing these Mega ships which continue to increase in length, width and draft? The terminals need to invest more in the draft, wharf/quay lengths, cranes, fenders, bollard pull tugs capable of pulling these mega vessels, etc. Currently, there are only 20 seaports or rather mega ports around the world which can accommodate these huge sized ships and half of them are in China and the rest are in Europe. Port of Savanah is critical to easing the congestion at the American seaports mostly induced by the pandemic.
The Army Corps of Engineers spent more than two decades on studies, environmental reviews and planning before contractors could begin to scoop mud and sediment from the bottom of the river. A 40-mile (64 Km) stretch of the Savannah River between the port and the Atlantic Ocean needed to be dredged. Post-Panama Canal expansion, Savannah joined the other American seaports to make room for larger cargo ships arriving through it.
Words of Mr Griff Lynch, executive director of the Georgia Ports Authority, reflects the fear that the dredging and deepening of the harbour could be temporary, lasting only a decade before having to further deepen or widen the channel again. Savannah harbour’s new depth is 47 feet (14 meters) which is 5 feet (1.5 meters) deeper than it was before the dredging. Lynch said that the next thing on the agenda would be to widen the channel at least in certain spots to allow the wider ships to pass.
