The Georgia Ports Authority and Wallenius Wilhelmsen have signed a 20-year terminal agreement consolidating the company’s port and logistics operations at the Port of Brunswick.
“We’re excited to welcome the additional business to Colonel’s Island Terminal from WW, where we are developing the nation’s premier gateway for all carriers handling autos and heavy machinery,” said GPA President and CEO Griff Lynch. “This move is an important part of our two-pillar strategy, which calls for all Roll-on/Roll-off cargo to be located in Brunswick, and all container trade in Savannah.”
For GPA, specializing the ports according to cargo type improves efficiency and creates centers of excellence. For customers such as Wallenius Wilhelmsen, expanding Brunswick infrastructure means greater ability to target new business opportunities.
“Our expansion and new long-term commitment in Brunswick strengthen 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.” says Lasse Kristoffersen, CEO, Wallenius Wilhelmsen.
To increase capacity in Brunswick, GPA has developed an additional 130 acres of Ro/Ro storage and multiple warehouses to serve processing needs at Colonel’s Island. Another 300 acres are available for development.
“We are thankful for our longtime partnership with Wallenius Wilhelmsen, and are excited to begin this new chapter of service,” said GPA Board Chairman Kent Fountain. “With the efficiencies of their Brunswick operation, GPA and WW will continue to deliver world-class reliability for our mutual customers.”
Port officials said the 20-year contract allows manufacturers to plan for the long-term.
“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,” said GPA Chief Administrative Officer Jamie McCurry. “It’s a foundation on which auto and machinery producers can grow their business in the U.S. Southeast and Midwest.”
WW now has the ability in Brunswick to perform a variety of services, including assembly, refurbishment and customizations 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. Installing customer-requested components on-terminal increases speed to market and avoids the cost of an additional haul to a separate facility.
“With the size and scope of our operations, Brunswick is an exceptional location, where we can provide all of our core services – ocean and inland transportation, vehicle and equipment processing, and terminal services,” said Mike Hynekamp, chief operating officer of Wallenius Wilhelmsen. “The company’s customers can have peace of mind knowing all their cargo moving through Brunswick is being managed by a single provider.”
A new fumigation warehouse adjacent to the berths ensures biosecurity requirements are met for shipments to Oceania.
Repositioning car and truck imports to Colonel’s Island not only serves Georgia customers more effectively, it stages the vehicles closer to high-volume markets. The move also helps consolidate auto trucking fleets, instead of splitting motor carrier capacity between Georgia’s two ports.
For breakbulk and project cargo, new dock upgrades and a new state-of-the art 100,000 square-foot warehouse provide short- and long-term storage at Mayor’s Point Terminal in Brunswick. This modernization upgrade will help support rubber shipments delivered on Wallenius Wilhelmsen vessels.