CenterPoint Properties broke ground Wednesday on a new 35,400-square-foot facility for Quala Sustainable Container Solutions.
The build-to-suit facility will be located on 9.7 acres within CenterPoint Intermodal Center off Dean Forest Road, four miles from the Georgia Ports Authority and within minutes of Interstates 95 and 16. In addition to the main building, the facility will include a 10,000-square-foot office with drivers’ lounge, 22 drive-in bays and parking for 50 cars and 166 trailers.
Tampa-based Quala is one of the largest independent providers of comprehensive cleaning, testing and repair services for commercial and industrial portable liquid and dry bulk containers in the United States, with 57 locations along the most active transportation routes and adjacent to eight of the 10 busiest U.S. ports.
“Locating in CenterPoint Intermodal Center — Savannah will give Quala an ideal location to provide their industrial client base with comprehensive cleaning, testing and repair services,” said Brian McKiernan, CenterPoint’s senior vice president for development.
“We are developing a state-of-the-art building for Quala that is situated less than five miles from the port entrance,” McKiernan said. “Both the design of the facility and the location allow Quala to access and service a broad range of clients coming to and from the port.”
Quala has entered into a 20-year lease on the facility. John Neely of Colliers International represented CenterPoint, while Tim Kilkelly of CNL Financial and Bill Sparks of CBRE represented Quala in the transaction.
“We’re excited to enter the Savannah market and service the growing needs of our valued customers,” said Quala president Terry O’Brien.
“We couldn’t be more pleased with the design of the
facility, which enables Quala to offer multiple-tank trailer and ISO container services, including chemical and food grade cleaning capabilities, maintenance, repairs and inspections to name a few.
“Along with our many capabilities, we will also be offering first-class office space and driver amenities.”
Construction is already underway, with completion expected in the spring of 2015. Evans General Contractors anticipates the construction phase will create approximately 85 jobs, while Quala anticipates 65 permanent employees at build out.
Headquartered in Chicago, CenterPoint Properties is focused on the development, acquisition and management of industrial property and transportation infrastructure that enhances business and government supply chain efficiency. The company invests in major coastal and inland port logistics markets anchoring North America’s principal freight lanes.
Holiday rush is on
Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to see a final surge and set a new monthly record in October as the holiday season approaches, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released this week by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.
“Increasing congestion at the nation’s ports as well as the ongoing West Coast labor negotiations are ongoing concerns and retailers are making one last push to make sure they’re stocked up for the holidays,” said Jonathan Gold of the NRF.
“Retailers are working hard to make sure customers can find what they’re looking for regardless of what happens at the ports.”
Import volume at U.S. ports covered by the report
– including Savannah – is expected to total 1.53 million containers this month, topping the 1.52 million monthly record set in August. Cargo volume has been well above average each month since spring as retailers have imported merchandise early in case of any disruption on the docks.
The contract between the Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union expired on July 1. Dockworkers remain on the job as negotiations continue, but the lack of a contract and operational issues have led to record congestion at West Coast ports, especially the sister ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
While there has been no work stoppage, the Journal of Commerce reports that might be changing with recent charges that ILWU members at LA-Long Beach this week began requiring truck inspections that reportedly go far beyond the normal safety procedures.
Also this week, the NRF sent a letter to the ILWU and the maritime association urging the two parties to conclude their contract negotiations, citing the unresolved talks for adversely impacting the supply chain, eviscerating retailers’ contingency plans and contributing to serious congestion at the nation’s largest ports.
The strongly worded letter made it clear West Coast ports could lose more than they bargained for — and East Coast ports like Savannah could come out the big winners — if a solution is not forthcoming:
“Shippers look for certainty when making strategic long-term supply chain investments, or for placing transportation orders for discretionary cargo,” the letter concludes. “The ongoing negotiations and the degradation of operating efficiency, specifically at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, is making the region unattractive for future investment and will lead to a permanent shift of cargo.”
Senior business reporter Mary Carr Mayle covers the ports for the Savannah Morning News and savannahnow. She can be reached at 912-652-0324 or at mary.mayle@savannahnow.com.
SHIPPING SCHEDULE
Following are the ships expected to call on Georgia Ports Authority’s Garden City and Ocean terminals this week. Schedules are supplied by GPA and are subject to change.
TERMINAL VESSEL ETA
GCT BREMEN BRIDGE Today
GCT MAERSK IOWA Today
GCT FLEX BOX CONTAINER Today
GCT MSC SHANGHAI Today
GCT CORCOVADO Today
GCT MOL MANEUVER Today
GCT MAERSK ATLANTA Today
GCT XIN YING KOU Today
OT ENDURANCE Today
OT BBC SKYSAILS Today
GCT SAIGON EXPRESS Saturday
GCT MSC SINDY Saturday
GCT SINGAPORE BRIDGE Saturday
GCT MAERSK WISCONSIN Saturday
GCT YORKTOWN EXPRESS Saturday
GCT NYK RIGEL Sunday
GCT SEOUL EXPRESS Sunday
GCT SEALAND NEW YORK Sunday
GCT MSC ATLANTA Sunday
OT ATLANTIC IMPALA Sunday
GCT NYK RUMINA Monday
GCT DEIRA Monday
GCT MSC ALESSIA Monday
GCT NYK LAURA Monday
GCT HANJIN MIAMI Monday
GCT HALIFAX EXPRESS Monday
GCT APL HOUSTON Tuesday
GCT HELVETIA Tuesday
GCT MSC MARINA Tuesday
GCT NYK DAEDALUS Tuesday
GCT HERMA P Tuesday
GCT MOL EXCELLENCE Tuesday
GCT MSC BUSAN Tuesday
GCT ZIM MONACO Tuesday
GCT HANJIN MONTEVIDEO Tuesday
GCT CMA CGM TANCREDI Tuesday
OT GOLIATH LEADER Tuesday
OT PARANDOWSKI Tuesday
GCT VICTORIA BRIDGE Wednesday
GCT NORTHERN JASPER Wednesday
GCT PARTICI Wednesday
GCT JPO CAPRICORNUS Thursday
GCT ISLANDIA Thursday
GCT MAERSK WILMINGTON Thursday
GCT MSC INGRID Thursday
GCT CHARLES DICKENS Thursday
GCT APL BELGIUM Thursday
OT TAMERLANE Thursday