South Carolina ports authority hopes to lure Maersk back

THE new president and CEO of the South Carolina State Ports Authority Jim Newsome has underscored the short-term necessity of raising container volumes at the Port of Charleston, which have fallen to 1999 levels.

Mr Newsome told the Charleston Post Courier that bringing back Maersk is a "major priority" after the Danish shipping line announced eight months ago its plans to leave Charleston once its contract runs out in 2010.

He also plans to attract new customers. "We are to have active dialogue with every major line," the former president of the America division of German carrier Hapag-Lloyd said in the interview, claiming to have "good contacts" in the shipping industry.

Mr Newsome's other priority is to work with community stakeholders on critical issues, including a new terminal at the former Navy Base in North Charleston. He said the port's official position is to "play by the rules of the permit" on the rail system for the facility.

Source: www.schednet.com