SAVANNAH, Ga. — Bulk storage firm Colonial Terminals has purchased 16.7 acres from Norfolk Southern in Savannah to develop a breakbulk facility along the Savannah River, the two companies have announced. The land is adjacent to a Norfolk Southern rail terminal and an existing Colonial Terminal riverfront facility.
The new rail-served facility should allow in excess of a million tons of throughput and support development of a new wide-span berth expected to move steel, and paper and other forest products, but handle any breakbulk cargo — goods that cannot fit in standard-size shipping containers or cargo bins.
Kathleen Smith, NS vice president of real estate and business development, said in a press release that the railroad seeks to leverage its real estate assets “to drive smart, sustainable growth for our customers and our rail network. This partnership furthers that mission, aligning our organizations to fulfill a critical supply-chain need in the Southeast.”
Colonial Terminals President Ryan Chandler said the the agreement “to extend our reach into the breakbulk space is a logical next step for our high-service culture.”
The project’s first phase will re construction of the berth and refurbishment of the existing warehouse; phase two will involve a new rail-served warehouse or outside storage project. Permitting for the berth is expected to be completed in mid-July; the project will be completed in late 2024 and cost more than $100 million.
