Georgia Ports Authority and Port of Shimizu 2009 Maritime Art Contest honorees (back row from left to right) Stephen Nease (3rd Grade), Dennis Bonner (4th Grade), Raven Dean (5th Grade), (front row from left to right) Reagan Moon (1st Grade), Kia Schindler (Kindergarten), Ashley Adamson (2nd Grade), and Isle of Hope Elementary School Art Teacher Layla Cady.

Savannah, Ga. – June 11, 2009 – The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) presented gifts from the Port of Shimizu, Japan to students from Isle of Hope Elementary School. The awards were given to art contest honorees as part of a partnership agreement between the two ports. The theme of the contest for the Isle of Hope students was ‘Maritime,’ with a secondary theme of ‘Trade between Japan and the United States,’ for the higher grade level students.

“We have a long standing relationship with the Port of Shimizu,” said GPA’s Executive Director Doug J. Marchand. “This contest is a way to span our ties across the ocean to our business partners and provide local elementary school students the opportunity to learn about trade with Japan.”

The partnership between the GPA and Port of Shimizu was formalized in 1983 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding. The agreement set forth terms to promote growth and development of the respective ports through the exchange of information related to port management and administration.

“Our continued trade relationship with Japan is a vital part of our business,” said Marchand. “At the Port of Savannah, Japanese container trade has grown 22 percent during the past five years. Both imports and exports through our port have been crucial in Japan’s economy.”

Each port sends reciprocating gifts to the winners of the other port’s art contest. The Port of Shimizu holds its contest annually to coincide with Japan Maritime Day in July. The U.S. winners received porcelain paintings created with inlaid enamel called Shippo-yaki. Contest winners in Japan will be presented with handheld telescopes sent by the GPA.

“Living on the coastal region, the children always see the gigantic containers ships coming up the Savannah River,” said Isle of Hope Elementary School Art Teacher Layla Cady. “It was fun for them to participate in this contest and share their ideas.”

Georgia’s deepwater ports and inland barge terminals support more than 286,476 jobs throughout the state annually and contribute $14.9 billion in income, $55.8 billion in revenue and $2.8 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia’s economy.