New column: The port that exports

By wpcomimportuser1 | May 30, 2008 | +

I have a column in the issue of Time with a fire alarm on the cover, and online here. It begins:

The giant ships from Asia steam into the Southern California ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach laden with flat-screen TVs, flip-flops, copying machines, nail clippers, Thomas the Tank Engines and all the other necessities of modern life. They leave port a few days later loaded mainly with empty containers.

For years, this has been among the most resonant images of the U.S.’s economic predicament. The world makes. We take.

But there is another port, across the continent from L.A., where things look a lot different. Stand on River Street in the old Georgia city of Savannah, and the big ships you see squeezing out to sea through the narrow river channel actually float lower than the ones coming in. They’re full of exports. Read more.

Related Topics: Economy & Policy

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marlin59

Hi Justin.

I happen to be a Time Inc employee but I did want to mention that I enjoyed your article on the Port of Savannah. It is right on target. My son graduated from SUNY Maritime College 3 years ago with a BS in Marine Transportation and immediately went to work for a company called Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics located in New Jersey. Following 6 months as a home office based Vessel Planner he was promoted to Port Captain nad relocated to Savannah. He is responsible for supervising the loading of the U.S.-made JCB earthmovers and Mercedes suvs that you mention in your article, along with a lot of other cargo. According to my son the City of Savannah has definite plans to expand the port dramatically. Its also a very enjoyable and affordable city. The down town area is unique and you can still buy an afforable starter home for less than $200,000. Very nice 2 bedroom condos are avilable in the same range. The cost of living in the surrounding LA, Long Beach and NY/NJ areas is substantially higher as I assume are operations costs. In my opinion Savannah is a well kept secret with tremendous potential.

Patrick