Port of Savannah Ocean Terminal Renovation Reaches 55% Completion

A $29 million overpass funded by Georgia Ports routes trucks from the Port of Savannah’s Ocean Terminal onto U.S. 17/Interstate 16, avoiding neighborhood streets. The nearly $1.6 billion renovation of Ocean Terminal will allow the 200-acre facility to handle up to 1.75 million twenty-foot equivalent container units per year. (Georgia Ports) 

Major infrastructure project will increase capacity, improve truck access, and add two vessel berths

SAVANNAH, Ga. (June 11, 2026) — Renovations at the Port of Savannah's Ocean Terminal have officially passed the halfway mark, with the nearly $1.6 billion modernization project now 55 percent complete.

Once finished, the 200-acre facility will increase its annual container handling capacity from approximately 200,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) to 1.75 million TEUs, helping Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) meet growing demand throughout the Southeast.

"Growth in population and manufacturing across the Southeast means we must be ready to meet future demand," said Georgia Ports President and CEO Griff Lynch. "Improving Ocean Terminal now will allow us to continue the efficient flow of cargo between our docks and inland markets that customers rely on."

Berth Improvements Advance

GPA has completed upgrades to the first of two vessel berths at Ocean Terminal. The berth is currently serving working vessels and can also function as a staging area for ships awaiting access to Garden City Terminal. This allows vessels to move quickly to Savannah's main container terminal as berths become available.

Construction on the second berth is expected to be completed by late June 2026, enabling Ocean Terminal to accommodate two large vessels simultaneously. Upon completion, the facility's dock space will total approximately 2,650 feet.

Until the first phase of the container yard renovation is completed, Ocean Terminal will continue to primarily serve smaller vessels and function as a lay berth facility. The first half of the renovated container yard is scheduled to open in mid-fall 2027, with full yard completion anticipated by the end of 2028.

Truck Access and Traffic Flow Improvements

Significant improvements are also underway to enhance truck access and cargo movement.

The new gate complex is approximately 80 percent complete, with initial components already open to traffic. When finished in November 2026, the facility will feature 12 inbound lanes and six outbound lanes designed to improve truck processing efficiency.

Port officials noted that a $29 million GPA-funded overpass now routes departing trucks directly to U.S. Highway 17 and Interstate 16, bypassing neighborhood streets. Incoming trucks access the terminal via a dedicated U.S. 17 off-ramp and signalized intersection, providing direct interstate connectivity between Savannah and the Atlanta metropolitan area.

Truck drivers serving Ocean Terminal also benefit from the GPA Trucker mobile application, which provides container location information and digital gate transaction notifications, reducing reliance on paper documentation and streamlining terminal operations.

Capacity Expansion Supports Future Growth

Additional improvements underway at Ocean Terminal include new operational buildings, equipment upgrades, and container yard enhancements.

Despite ongoing construction, Ocean Terminal handled approximately 84,000 TEUs during calendar year 2025.

Upon completion, the project will help increase the Port of Savannah's total annual container handling capacity to 9 million TEUs by 2029.

According to Lynch, the Ocean Terminal redevelopment is a key component of GPA's long-term port master plan. Over the next decade, Georgia Ports Authority plans to invest approximately $5 billion in infrastructure and capacity enhancements to support future supply chain demand and economic growth throughout the region.