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A positive outlook for bunker sales volumes is forecast for the US port of Savannah following news that the East Coast port recorded a vessel call increase of over 15 percent in October 2009.

Chief Operating Officer, Curtis J. Foltz, who will become the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA)’s next Executive Director on January 1, reported to the Board that Savannah saw container tonnage increase by 12.3 percent compared to the previous year and vessel calls to all terminals increase by 15.1 percent.

In addition, the authority said it handled more than 234,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit containers) for the month of October, a 1.7-percent increase compared with the same period last year.

"The positive growth in containers represents the first monthly increase for the GPA in more than 12 months and we remain cautiously optimistic this may signal an improving economic condition in the months ahead,” said Foltz.

“The increase in container tonnage reflects our continued strength in export volumes. With the addition of new services like the Indamex, as well as record vessel calls, the GPA is well-positioned when the economy strengthens.”

Savannah is quickly becoming a leading choice for Suez services. This month the Georgia Ports Authority also announced that the Indamex service, covering the Indian sub-continent and Eastern Mediterranean, would add a new call at Savannah beginning next month.

“We welcome the Indamex service to Savannah and look forward to working closely with the consortium of shipping lines and cargo owners that make up this excellent new opportunity,” said Marchand.

"Savannah is quickly becoming the port of choice for Suez services and currently participates in seven of the nine services transiting the Suez Canal to the United States East Coast, more than any other port in the South Atlantic and Gulf.”

"With the addition of the Indamex, Savannah now provides service to all major Indian ports – Nhava Sheva, Mundra and Chennai – and will better fill that country’s growing demand for export commodities such as fabrics, cotton, paper, paperboard and woodpulp. Imports such as rugs, sheets, towels, blankets and apparel will reach growing consumer markets such as Atlanta, Georgia, Orlando, Florida, and Memphis, Tennessee, with greater efficiency and savings," the Georgia Ports Authority.