The project is owned by Savannah industrialist Reed Dulany, who has spent much of the past three years building a sea wall to support the berth. That work was temporarily delayed by objections from the Georgia Ports Authority, part of a long-running dispute between GPA leaders and Dulany over private cargo operations on the river.

Renderings released by engineering firm GHD show a multi-use terminal with three ship berths capable of handling some of the largest container and cargo vessels. SeaPoint officials have said the facility is designed to handle breakbulk and bulk cargo, including containers, and will feature on-site warehousing and rail connections.

Dulany has described the project as a complement to the region's existing port infrastructure. "We've brought a few things to the table that they've looked at and quite frankly excused," he said in a Tuesday interview, referring to the site's potential.

One concern raised by the Georgia Ports Authority involved truck traffic. GPA officials cited traffic as one reason the site was rejected for a container facility, noting that the terminal's location east of downtown Savannah means trucks would pass through residential areas. SeaPoint representatives have said they are addressing those concerns and that the terminal will serve as a long-standing local employer.

"Now we are transshipping traffic that is important for the community as well as the state," said one SeaPoint leader, adding that the project will bring more than 100 jobs to the area.

Tollison, a representative for the Savannah Riverfront Economic Development Authority, said the site makes economic sense for the region. "We've got a great opportunity here," he said. "We look at what they've offered and we've been excited about it."

Officials have also studied the potential traffic impact of the terminal on nearby roads and highways, as well as the possibility of direct rail connections to the site. SeaPoint is located near the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge and other industrial facilities.

The project site has a long industrial history. It was once home to a titanium dioxide plant that produced paint and other products, and later a chemical plant that manufactured stone markers. The property was acquired by Dulany in 2010, and a $410 million environmental cleanup was completed in 2022. The site has received a national award for environmental remediation.

Dulany has said the cleanup efforts go beyond what was required, including a sulfuric acid plant that produces enough energy to make the site carbon-neutral. The property also includes a farm and a nature trail.

The SeaPoint terminal is one of several port projects moving forward along the Savannah River. The Georgia Ports Authority is in the midst of a major expansion, including a new container terminal on Hutchinson Island that is scheduled to open in 2028. The GPA's Garden City Terminal is already the third-largest container terminal in the United States.

The new private terminal comes as the Savannah River waterfront becomes increasingly crowded with cargo-handling facilities. The project is expected to bring additional shipping capacity to the region, but it also raises questions about traffic congestion, environmental impacts, and the balance between industrial development and community interests.

Construction is slated to begin in 2027, with the terminal expected to be fully operational in the following years.