South Carolina's Charleston handles 7pc more containers in February

THE South Carolina Port of Charleston handled 108,994 TEU in February, an increase of seven per cent against February last year.


During the first eight months of the port's current fiscal year (July-February), Charleston handled 912,789 TEU, an increase of 12.4 per cent compared to the same period a year earlier.


A statement from the South Carolina state ports authority attributed the volume growth to "major improvements to container operations and the completion of a nearly US$22 million project to accommodate growth in Charleston's breakbulk sector," it said.


"The increase follows a major streamlining in January of the SCSPA's container business segment, where all container business was consolidated in two terminals in Charleston while gate operations and processes were harmonised at those terminals. The move offered numerous benefits to port users, including extended gate hours and access to the SCSPA's information systems for all port customers, all while boosting capacity by about 10 per cent," port authorities said.


Breakbulk tonnage at the ports of Charleston and Georgetown rose by 44 per cent during the fiscal year to date, with 657,528 tons handled at the two ports, up from 455,449 tons handled the previous fiscal year.


The SCSPA said it anticipates continued, but moderate, growth through the year.


It added that a US$21.7 million project to reconfigure and improve the Columbus Street Terminal, Charleston's principal breakbulk, roll-on/roll-off and project cargo-handling facility, was completed in February.
(Source:http://www.schednet.com)