Charleston South Carolina, up 19pc, accommodates 8,000-TEU ships

THE South Carolina port of Charleston saw container volumes rise 19 per cent in the first half of 2010 to 741,208 TEU.

"While we expect volume to moderate in the latter half of the year, we're encouraged that business has returned at such a fast pace and we're headed in the right direction," said South Carolina State Ports Authority (SCSPA) chairman Bill Stern.

Charleston added three new shipping services in FY2010, including Mediterranean Shipping Company's Golden Gate Service. The GGS, which made its first call in February, is bringing ships of more than 8,000 TEU to the port on a regular basis.

The US Army Corps of Engineers' Charleston District has favourably concluded the Reconnaissance Study for the more than 45-foot deepening project in Charleston Harbour. The study determined a federal interest in proceeding to the next step in the process - the feasibility phase - to further define time and costs associated with deepening Charleston's channels, a statement from port authorities said.

On the cargo development side, major global corporations have been locating or expanding in the port's service area, with TBC Corporation, parent company of Tire Kingdom, locating a new 0.33 million square metre distribution facility in Berkeley County and will import tires through the Port of Charleston. In addition, private developers are proceeding with plans to build more than 6.096 million square metres in new industrial space near Charleston's deepwater port facilities.

The SCSPA is projecting a seven per cent increase in container volume this current fiscal year and a more than 50 per cent increase in breakbulk and non-container cargo.

At the same time, the SCSPA plans to invest nearly US$77 million this fiscal on terminal improvements, including work on the SCSPA's new container terminal on the former navy base.
(Source:www.schednet.com)