Georgia’s deepwater ports set a record for moving autos and heavy machinery last month, the Georgia Ports Authority   announced Monday.

Of the 60,974 units of “roll-on/roll-off” cargo handled at the ports of Savannah and Brunswick, 59,926 were moved through the Colonel’s Island terminal at the Port of Brunswick.

“Georgia’s deepwater ports are perfectly positioned to take advantage of the growing export market for vehicles and heavy equipment produced in Georgia and around the Southeast,” said Curtis Foltz, the ports authority’s executive director.

Volume at the Colonel’s Island terminal last month increased 57.7 percent over April of last year.

In anticipation of increased heavy machinery exports, the authority’s board in March approved $2.8 million in structural improvements at Colonel’s Island.

The Brunswick facility is the nation’s fifth-busiest port for total import-export of roll-on/roll-off cargo.

Overall, Georgia’s ports handled 2.3 million tons of cargo in April, the fourth-highest monthly volume on record.