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Georgia Ports Authority updates county on Port of Brunswick expansion and navigation projects
Summary
Jamie McCurry of the Georgia Ports Authority briefed commissioners on Port of Brunswick growth at Colonel's Island, new rail yard capacity, a planned fourth berth and Corps of Engineers navigation work to accommodate larger vessels.
Jamie McCurry, speaking for the Georgia Ports Authority, gave commissioners an update on capacity, construction and navigation projects at the Port of Brunswick and Colonel's Island.
McCurry said Brunswick’s roll-on/roll-off volume recently peaked, and that the port—especially Colonel's Island—has expanded rail and warehousing capacity to capture vehicle and heavy‑machinery cargo. "Over the last 20 plus years Brunswick has gone from fifth place, to first place in the country in terms of volume," McCurry said.
He described a multi-phase rail-yard expansion that will improve switching and allow trains to pull directly onto the island; phase 1 of the rail yard was reported ready to operate in July, with a larger phase 2 to follow. McCurry told the commission the Corps of Engineers will undertake channel modifications to widen turning areas and that a Brunswick Harbor Modification Project is expected to begin construction within the next year.
McCurry said the port authority board approved roughly $11 million for water‑system improvements at the East River terminal to improve fire protection and operations, and that the board also approved construction of a fourth berth—an item described as just under $100 million in total cost and supported in part by a federal grant. He said construction on the berth is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2026.
Commissioners asked about job counts, rail capacity and how new automotive manufacturing in the region (such as Hyundai’s plant in Bryan County) might affect port volumes; McCurry said the Bryan County plant is expected to serve mostly U.S. domestic demand initially, but that the port sees long‑term potential to expand export flows.
Why it matters: port growth affects local economic development, rail and road usage, and emergency‑response infrastructure. The port reported record monthly volumes in March and said upgrades aim to handle larger ships without major dredging.
The presentation was informational; no county action was requested of the commission during the briefing.
