The Port of Savannah: An Overview
The Port of Savannah, operated by the Georgia Ports Authority, is one of the busiest and fastest-growing seaports in the United States. The Garden City Terminal — the port's main container facility — is the largest single-terminal container facility in North America, handling millions of twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually. The port has undergone significant expansion in recent years, including deepening the Savannah Harbor to 47 feet to accommodate the largest container vessels in the world.
Savannah's strategic location on the southeastern coast of the United States gives it a natural advantage for both import and export operations. The port serves as a gateway for goods moving between the US and trading partners in Asia, Europe, South America, and beyond. For businesses looking to move products efficiently through the US supply chain, understanding how to leverage the Port of Savannah is a significant competitive advantage.
Why Ship Through Savannah?
Several factors make Savannah an attractive choice for shippers. The port's infrastructure is modern and continuously expanding, which means fewer bottlenecks and faster vessel turnaround times compared to many competing ports. Savannah consistently ranks among the top ports in the country for efficiency and reliability.
Geographically, Savannah provides excellent access to the rapidly growing Southeast US market. The port is connected to major interstate highways (I-16 and I-95), two Class I railroads (CSX and Norfolk Southern), and a network of regional distribution centers that enable quick inland distribution. For businesses targeting customers in the Southeast, Midwest, or along the Eastern Seaboard, Savannah often offers shorter transit times and lower drayage costs than alternatives like the ports of Los Angeles, New York, or New Jersey.
The Georgia Ports Authority has also invested heavily in inland port facilities — notably in Cordele and Gainesville, Georgia — which allow shippers to move containers by rail to inland hubs, reducing truck traffic and lowering transportation costs for shipments bound for interior markets.
The Import Process
Importing through Savannah follows a standard process, though the specifics can vary depending on the type of goods, their country of origin, and applicable regulations. The general flow begins with booking ocean freight with a carrier or through a freight forwarder. Your goods are loaded into containers at the origin port, shipped across the ocean, and arrive at the Garden City Terminal.
Upon arrival, containers are unloaded and moved to the container yard. Your customs broker (or your freight forwarder acting as customs broker) files the necessary entry documents with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Once customs clearance is granted, the container is released for pickup. A drayage carrier then transports the container from the port to your warehouse, distribution center, or 3PL facility for unloading and processing.
The entire process from vessel arrival to container availability typically takes 2-5 business days, depending on customs processing time and any inspection requirements. Working with an experienced customs broker and freight forwarder can significantly reduce delays and complications.
The Export Process
Exporting through Savannah is essentially the reverse. Goods are packed into containers at your facility or your 3PL's warehouse, then transported by drayage to the port. Export documentation — including the bill of lading, commercial invoice, packing list, and any required certificates — must be filed with the carrier and CBP prior to the vessel's departure.
Savannah's export capabilities are particularly strong for agricultural products, manufactured goods, and machinery. The port's efficient rail connections and proximity to manufacturing centers in the Southeast make it a natural choice for exporters looking to reach global markets.
Customs and Compliance
Navigating US customs requirements is one of the most critical aspects of international shipping. All imported goods must be classified under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS), and duties and tariffs must be paid before goods can be released. Certain product categories — food, pharmaceuticals, electronics, textiles — are subject to additional regulatory requirements from agencies like the FDA, USDA, FCC, and CPSC.
A licensed customs broker handles the paperwork, duty calculations, and communication with CBP on your behalf. Many freight forwarders also offer customs brokerage as part of their services. For businesses new to importing, partnering with an experienced broker is essential to avoid costly delays, fines, or cargo holds.
The CBP also operates programs like the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and the Importer Self-Assessment (ISA) program, which offer expedited processing for trusted shippers who meet certain security and compliance criteria.
Freight Forwarding
A freight forwarder acts as an intermediary between the shipper and the various transportation services involved in moving goods internationally. They coordinate ocean freight bookings, inland transportation, customs clearance, and cargo insurance. For businesses that do not have an in-house logistics team, a freight forwarder is often the most practical way to manage the complexity of international shipping.
When selecting a freight forwarder for Savannah shipments, look for one with established relationships at the port, experience with your type of cargo, and the ability to provide end-to-end visibility on your shipments. Many forwarders offer door-to-door service, handling everything from pickup at the overseas factory to delivery at your US facility.
Connecting to Inland Distribution
One of Savannah's greatest advantages is its connectivity to inland distribution networks. Once your container clears the port, you have multiple options for getting it to its final destination. Drayage trucking handles short-haul moves to nearby warehouses and distribution centers. For longer hauls, intermodal rail service via CSX or Norfolk Southern can move containers to major inland markets at a lower cost than long-distance trucking.
AnkerPak's facilities in Columbus, Georgia are strategically positioned approximately 240 miles from the Port of Savannah — close enough for efficient drayage but far enough inland to serve as a central distribution hub for the Southeast. This proximity allows AnkerPak clients to receive containers from Savannah, process and package goods at our facilities, and distribute finished products to customers across the region within days.
For businesses that import raw materials or semi-finished goods for further processing, having a 3PL partner near a major port eliminates the need to ship containers across the country before beginning value-added operations. This reduces transit time, lowers transportation costs, and gets products to market faster.
Costs and Timelines
Shipping costs through Savannah vary based on several factors: container size (20-foot vs. 40-foot), origin port, ocean freight rates (which fluctuate based on market conditions), drayage distance, customs duties, and any value-added services required at the destination. As a general reference, ocean freight from major Asian ports to Savannah typically takes 18-25 days, while transatlantic shipments from Europe average 10-18 days.
Drayage from Savannah to facilities within a 300-mile radius generally costs between $500-$1,500 per container, depending on distance and current market rates. Customs processing, assuming no complications, typically adds 1-3 business days to the overall timeline.
Working with a knowledgeable logistics partner can help you optimize these costs and timelines. AnkerPak's proximity to Savannah and our integrated warehousing, packaging, and distribution capabilities allow us to offer streamlined port-to-shelf solutions that minimize handling, reduce costs, and accelerate time to market.