The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) announced earlier this week that it broke a record for the number of cargo containers it moved in 2006, which made the Port of Savannah the second largest container port on the East Coast.

The GPA said that the Port of Savannah handled 2.16 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent containers) in 2006, which represents a 14 spike over 2005.

Along with the strong performance at the Port of Savannah, the GPA noted that the Port of Brunswick totaled a record 379,001 auto and machinery units in 2006, which is up 17 percent from 2005.

“Investments the state of Georgia and the Authority have made in our facilities are paying huge dividends for our customers,” said Doug J. Marchand, GPA’s Executive Director, in a press release. “We are setting new records, exceeding service levels and moving forward with an aggressive, $1 billion capital improvement plan to grow our business to new highs and create more jobs and opportunities for the citizens of Georgia.”

Some of the future improvements include an additional 100 acres of container storage and 1,000 linear feet of dock to be completed later this year, and15 additional Rubber Tire Gantry Cranes to be in service by July 2007 at the Port of Savannah and the Brunswick Harbor Deepening Project is scheduled for completion by mid-2007 at the Port of Brunswick, among others.