Port of Savannah to Open New Chilled Cargo Inspection Facility July 1

Starting July 1, U.S. Customs and the U.S. Department of Agriculture will begin chilled cargo inspections at a refrigerated facility at the Port of Savannah. The on-site warehouse offers produce importers the option to have containers inspected on-terminal, allowing for quicker release of the cargo. (Georgia Ports)

Georgia Ports Authority customers will gain a new option for refrigerated cargo inspections beginning July 1, 2026, with the opening of a new temperature-controlled U.S. Customs inspection facility at the Port of Savannah.

The 4,000-square-foot refrigerated inspection space is designed to support the efficient handling of perishable imports while maintaining the cold chain throughout the inspection process. The facility includes specialized temperature controls and 20 refrigerated container power connections for on-site inspections.

Port officials say the new capability will help expedite the movement of chilled commodities while supporting efforts to protect domestic agriculture from invasive pests and plant diseases.

The refrigerated inspection area is part of a larger $49.25 million project that relocated U.S. Customs and Border Protection operations to a new 300,000-square-foot facility at Garden City Terminal. The complex also supports inspections by agencies including the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The investment comes as refrigerated cargo continues to grow at the Port of Savannah. Chilled cargo imports increased 10.5 percent during the current fiscal year through May 31, reaching 43,540 TEUs.