Savannah port terminal guide

Savannah Location

Savannah sits midway along Georgia's coastline, South Carolina to the north and Florida to the south. The Savannah River runs southeast to the sea, forming a deepwater shoreline on the city's south side where both deepwater terminals sit. I-16 joins I-95 west of the city and runs east straight to the terminal, the main corridor between port and inland. This position lets Savannah serve the US Southeast and reach the Midwest by rail.

Savannah Port of Entry Overview

Savannah's customs port code is 1703, with the office on Southern Boulevard handling local import filing, exam and release. The port's supervisory unit is the Atlanta Field Office, and the operations center runs seven days a week.

The port's operations center handles vessel in-and-out, trade inquiry, import exam, entry processing and agriculture exam, running seven days a week. Trade and general inquiry are taken by a dedicated email, and seizure matters by another channel. Import cargo filed at Savannah can use the window matching its business type. Aircraft arrival and passenger-cargo inspection at the airport side are handled by the same port's on-site team.

Management and Terminal System

The Port of Savannah is operated by the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), a Georgia state agency. The deepwater terminals are in two places, plus an inland rail facility network linked to them. The authority runs mainly on self-generated funds, with operating revenue from terminal fees and related services.

The authority also runs other facilities in the state, including the Brunswick ro-ro terminal and several inland rail yards. The two Savannah deepwater terminals differ: Garden City handles container main business, Ocean Terminal handles ro-ro, break-bulk and some containers, and is expanding container capacity in its rebuild. In recent years the authority has focused investment on terminal capacity expansion, channel deepening and the inland rail network.

Garden City Terminal

Garden City Terminal is Savannah's container main terminal, on the Garden City side upstream on the Savannah River, about 1,350 acres. Per the Georgia Ports Authority, it is among the larger single container terminals in North America, handling nearly 38 million tons of container cargo a year.

The terminal works at a fast pace; the gate opens at 04:00, letting truckers complete multiple in-and-out trips in one day, which has a real effect on inventory turn and supply-chain rhythm. The yard is zoned by box type and destination, loaded and empty boxes kept apart, and reefers in powered areas. On-dock rail loading capacity is planned with berth count, so vessels can move to rail quickly after arrival, cutting dwell time.

Ocean Terminal

Ocean Terminal is Savannah's second deepwater terminal, downstream on the Savannah River near the city, 208 acres. It is under a berth and yard rebuild aimed at serving two large container ships at once on completion and adding about 2 million TEU of capacity.

The rebuild includes demolishing existing warehouses, building new container storage, raising grade and adding yard equipment. The terminal keeps working during the rebuild; ro-ro and break-bulk scheduling follows the terminal's published temporary plan. After completion the two terminals will share Savannah's container business, easing yard and berth pressure.

Savannah Container Throughput

Savannah's throughput more than doubled over the past fifteen years, a 5.3% compound annual growth rate. The authority's long-range forecast sees container volume rise about 45.2% from FY2025 to FY2035, expanding Garden City and Ocean terminals to about 9.5 million TEU. This growth ties to manufacturing expansion in Georgia and the US Southeast; local auto and electronics investment supports the new volume.

Channel and Vessel Conditions

Savannah's terminals are on the river section; inbound vessels transit a stretch of river where bridge clearance is the main limit. The Talmadge Memorial Bridge's current clearance restricts some large vessels; the Georgia Department of Transportation-led lift project plans to raise the deck about 20 feet for the new generation of large container ships. Channel deepening and passing zones solve meeting and overtaking in the river; together they are the base condition for Savannah to take large vessels.

Rail Linkage

Garden City Terminal has CSX and Norfolk Southern, both Class I railroads, running directly into the terminal, with on-terminal intermodal facilities taking both railroads' trains. This lets Savannah container cargo switch between vessel and rail inside the terminal without short dray.

Rail at Savannah serves two functions: long-haul from terminal to inland hubs, and distribution to Southeast and Midwest markets. Both Class I railroads run lines in the terminal, so forwarders can pick the better-value network by destination. From Savannah, rail reaches Chicago, Memphis and Louisville, then hubs distribute to wider markets. For China exporters, dual rail access means more inland-leg choices and steadier peak-season capacity.

Inland Port Network

Inland ports extend part of the terminal function inland: cargo discharged at Savannah moves by rail to the inland port, where pickup and delivery are done locally, or the reverse. This cuts truck crossings of the Atlanta metro and shortens driver trips. Gainesville Inland Port is the newest link in the authority's inland network; its region has hundreds of manufacturers, with cargo including poultry, heavy equipment and forest products.

Highway Conditions

Savannah's highway network centers on I-16 and I-95. I-16 joins I-75 west, reaching Atlanta and markets further west; I-95 links East Coast states north-south. The authority has invested in port-to-highway links, including new interchanges letting trucks enter the I-16 corridor directly and avoid neighboring street crossings. Truck-gate count is planned to rise from 53 to 100 after 2030 to absorb growing volume.

Foreign-Trade Zone 104

Savannah has Foreign-Trade Zone 104, with the Savannah Airport Commission as grantee, covering eight counties around Savannah; imported cargo can be stored, sorted and processed without duty paid.

Goods in the zone are stored, sorted, labeled or re-exported without duty paid; duty payment is deferred until the goods leave the zone into the US market. Savannah's FTZ sites cover the airport and port areas, linking with air-cargo facilities, rail intermodal and the port terminals. Applicability and any rate-choice benefit need a per-shipment check against commodity and HS code.

China-to-Savannah Ocean Routing and Transit

China-export container cargo to Savannah is mainly all-water direct, entering the US East Coast via the Panama or Suez Canal. Some cargo uses ocean-to-rail, discharged at a US West Coast port then railed to Savannah.

The above ranges are the common overlap after cross-checking several forwarders' transit tables; they exclude cut-off, clearance and peak queue time and are not a delivery commitment. All-water has a longer ocean leg but shorter, fewer-step inland leg; ocean-to-rail may be faster overall but adds a transfer step and cost. Choose by cargo time need and cost budget.

Air Cargo Conditions

Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) is the local air port, northwest of the city. The airport has customs facilities and falls within the foreign-trade zone; a new air-cargo park gives the cargo business room to expand.

SAV cargo is mainly domestic scheduled flights, with belly capacity on passenger routes. Gulfstream Aerospace has its headquarters and manufacturing inside the airport, giving steady demand for aviation parts and related equipment. International air large and palletized cargo usually transfers via Atlanta and other hubs, then trucks in. High-value cargo needing air time can clear at the hub first, then transfer.

Warehouse and Distribution

Savannah's industrial inventory has grown fast in recent years; vacancy is relatively high as new supply and demand rebalance. Rent is lower than the big East Coast coastal markets, attractive to storage-cost-sensitive cargo. Recent projects are large distribution centers and manufacturing support, with the Hyundai EV project and its suppliers driving new warehouses. Long-term tenants usually lock space months ahead.

Pickup and Empty Return

Pickup needs advance booking and the carrier's authorization documents. Garden City's gate opens at 04:00, letting truckers do multiple in-and-out trips in a day, which helps local delivery and inventory turn. Box free storage at the yard follows carrier and yard rules; overdue incurs storage. The empty-return point may differ from the pickup point; confirm per carrier instruction before handoff.

Savannah Customs Exams and Release

The Savannah port can file, exam and release; imported cargo can be entered and released at the port of entry then moved in, or moved in-bond sealed to this port and filed here. In-bond needs filing and bond at entry and arrival at the destination port within the set period.

Exam ratio follows risk rating; consistency of name, value and origin affects selection. Inconsistent documents between papers are a common delay; commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading names, quantities and amounts need line-by-line check. Wood-packaged goods need IPPC fumigation marks; agricultural and food cargo must meet agriculture quarantine rules.

Operating Hours and Holidays

The port's operations center runs seven days a week with a 24-hour after-hours line. US legal holidays affect office and terminal work; New Year, Independence Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas are usually full-day closures; MLK Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day and Columbus Day follow federal holiday scheduling. The Friday after Thanksgiving and the days around Christmas see some warehouses and yards shorten hours or rotate; count this in year-end planning.

Peak and Off-Peak Seasons

The import peak usually lands August to October, in sync with East Coast ports, when space and inland capacity are tight. November and December are a fall after the pre-holiday rush; January to February is low season with lower volume. March volume starts to recover; April to June is a relatively steady window. As an East Coast trunk gateway, Savannah's peak is concentrated, so space and inland rail booking need advance planning.

Peak and off-peak mainly hit space and the inland leg: ocean rate swings follow carrier capacity, while rail intermodal and truck capacity in peak prioritize full trains and block loads. In peak, submit pickup booking three to five days ahead and buffer one or two days. New warehouse delivery timing also affects peak storage choice.

Port Advantages

• Garden City Terminal is, per the Georgia Ports Authority, among the larger single container terminals in North America, with concentrated volume and more sailings and frequency to choose from.
• CSX and Norfolk Southern, both Class I railroads, run directly into the terminal, so containers switch between vessel and rail inside the terminal.
• On-dock rail departure capacity is 10 trains x 10,000 feet, reaching inland hubs like Chicago, Memphis and Louisville.
• The gate opens at 04:00, letting truckers do multiple in-and-out trips in a day, helping inventory turn.
• The inland port network covers northeastern Georgia, so cargo can be picked up and delivered inland, cutting truck crossings of the Atlanta metro.
• The channel is deepened 5 feet with passing zones, plus a bridge-lift project, to take large container ships.
• FTZ 104 covers eight counties around Savannah, letting cargo be stored, sorted and re-exported without duty paid.

Together, Savannah suits two needs: FCL import for the US Southeast and Midwest markets, and importers wanting a US East Coast base while controlling inland transport cost. Dual rail access and the inland port network give Savannah more inland-leg choices, with real meaning for peak planning and cost control.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Savannah's main terminals?

The Port of Savannah has two deepwater terminals, Garden City Terminal and Ocean Terminal, both operated by the Georgia Ports Authority. Garden City is about 1,350 acres and handles container main business; Ocean is 208 acres and handles ro-ro, break-bulk and is expanding container capacity.

How long does shipping from China to Savannah usually take?

Per the cross-checked published transit tables of several forwarders, all-water ocean leg is commonly about 28 to 35 days, and door to door after adding the inland leg about 32 to 42 days; the via-West-Coast-rail route is about 24 to 34 days. Air is commonly about 5 to 9 days. Actual time follows the carrier's basis at booking.

Does Savannah have rail service?

Yes. Garden City Terminal has CSX and Norfolk Southern, both Class I railroads, running directly into the terminal, with on-terminal intermodal facilities taking both railroads' trains. In 2025 on-dock rail departure capacity is 10 trains x 10,000 feet, reaching Chicago, Memphis and Louisville.

Can cargo clear customs at Savannah?

Yes. Savannah port code 1703 has filing, exam and release capability, with the operations center running seven days a week. Cargo can be entered and released at the port of entry then moved in, or moved in-bond sealed to this port and filed here; in-bond needs filing and bond at entry.

What is Savannah's throughput?

Per the Georgia Ports Authority annual report, FY2025 Savannah handled 5.7 million TEU, its second-highest fiscal year on record. Current terminal capacity is about 5.6 million TEU, planned to 7.5 million by 2030, with the annual-report final build target 9.5 million TEU.

Where is the container picked up after arriving in Savannah?

Pickup is at the Garden City Terminal yard or the carrier-designated yard. The trucking company books a slot with the arrival notice, released bill of lading, customs release receipt and pickup authorization; Garden City gate hours are 04:00 to 18:00, enabling multiple trips in a day.

How do Savannah's inland ports work?

The authority runs inland rail facilities in the state; cargo discharged at Savannah moves by rail to the inland port, where pickup and delivery are done locally, or the reverse. Appalachian Regional Port had 45,700 boxes in 2025; Gainesville Inland Port is planned to open in May 2026, with five-day-a-week direct rail to Savannah.

How is Foreign-Trade Zone 104 used?

FTZ 104 has the Savannah Airport Commission as grantee, covering eight counties around Savannah, with a 2,000-acre activation cap. Goods in the zone can be stored, sorted and re-exported without duty paid, deferring duty to when they enter the US market. Applicability needs a case-by-case check against commodity and HS code.

What are Savannah's warehouse conditions?

Local industrial inventory is about 164.4 million square feet, vacancy about 14.07%, average asking rent about USD 8.51 per square foot per year, under construction about 5.04 million square feet. Inventory has grown fast and rent is lower than the big East Coast coastal markets, attractive to storage-cost-sensitive cargo.

When is Savannah's peak season?

The import peak is usually August to October, when space and inland capacity are tight. November and December are a fall; January to February is low season. In peak, submit pickup booking three to five days ahead and buffer one or two days; rail intermodal and truck capacity need advance planning.