Georgia Ports recently commissioned the first two rail-mounted gantry cranes that will serve the Mason Mega Rail Terminal.

New equipment spans nine tracks, operates more efficiently

The Georgia Ports Authority recently commissioned its first two rail-mounted gantry cranes to work the Port of Savannah’s Mason Mega Rail terminal.

Spanning nine tracks, the machines speed the transition of containers between trains and trucks. They are the first of eight new RMGs that will serve Class I railroads Norfolk Southern and CSX on the port’s expanded rail infrastructure. The Mason Mega Rail project will double annual rail capacity at Garden City Terminal to 2 million TEUs.

Paul Harkness, director of crane maintenance and repair, said the electric-powered RMGs will reduce the use of diesel fuel and also reduce waiting times for jockey truck drivers.

GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch reported that the West bundle of tracks, representing half the new working tracks, are now ready for use, serving Norfolk Southern trains. The East bundle will go into service December 2021. At that time, CSX will shift on-terminal operations from the Port of Savannah’s Chatham Yard to the Mason Mega Rail terminal.

“GPA remains focused on building for the future because we are confident in the long-term success our customers will achieve through the greater efficiency of Georgia’s deepwater terminals,” Lynch said.