The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) has approved $614 million for the first phase of improvements at Savannah's Ocean Terminal, which now serves as a lay berth for ships waiting to dock at Garden City. The move has helped reduce anchorage delays, reports New York's Journal of Commerce.

The GPA said the lay berth began operations last month, cutting average anchorage time to about one day. The berth allows ships to wait inside the port rather than offshore, easing congestion and improving scheduling.

The first phase of Ocean Terminal's renovation includes upgrades to the container yard, terminal and infrastructure, with completion expected in 2027. A second phase will follow in late 2028, bringing total investment to $1.54 billion.

At full buildout, the 200-acre terminal will accommodate two large container ships simultaneously, with a nominal annual capacity of two million TEU. The GPA also plans expanded truck gates and a new exit ramp.

Earlier this year, the GPA opened a berth at Ocean Terminal for super-postpanamax ships. This berth now serves as a waiting area for vessels transiting the Savannah River, helping them avoid tidal delays.

GPA chief executive Griff Lynch said the lay berth, combined with eight labour start times, offers new opportunities for ships to maintain or recover schedules.

The first ship to use the lay berth was the 9,030-TEU CCNI Arauco, operated by Hamburg Sud. It arrived on September 11 and spent just over two hours at Ocean Terminal before proceeding to Garden City.