THE South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) has discussed the possibility of regional collaboration among rival ports to accommodate larger ships heading for US east coast ports.
SCPA president and CEO Jim Newsome said he does not know what the regional collaboration would look like or if it would even happen, reported the Charleston Business Journal.
Mr Newsome said during the ports authority's meeting Wednesday that it is possible that regional ports will have to work together in the future to remain competitive and to meet the needs of the shipping lines, as they continue to order larger ships.
The ports of Seattle and Tacoma recently announced such an agreement. The former competitors will collaborate for the first time. The ports will discuss rates and operations, for example, to strengthen their offerings in the competitive port industry.
SCPA also plans to announce several infrastructure projects over the next 12 months to update terminals and port facilities in the Charleston area to accommodate the larger ships. Many of the port terminals are designed for 5,000 to 6,000-TEU ships.
Seventeen of the top 20 shipping lines in the world will receive new ships in 2014. Ocean carriers also are ordering larger ships, which are likely to be delivered in 2017.
Twenty-eight ships have been ordered in the 10,000-12,000 TEU range; 60 ships for the 13,000-14,000 TEU range and 41 ships for the 16,000-19,000 TEU range, according to Alphaliner data.
The SCPA is working to deepen Charleston Harbour to 50 feet (15 metres) to accommodate larger ships. The Panama Canal expansion is expected to flood the US east coast with ships of up to 13,000 TEU.
PORTS
30 January 2014 - 21:15
Charleston mulls collaboration with rivals to accommodate bigger ships
THE South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) has discussed the possibility of regional collaboration among rival ports to accommodate larger ships heading for US east coast ports.
PORTS
30 January 2014 - 21:15
Charleston mulls collaboration with rivals to accommodate bigger ships
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