THE Port of Charleston's South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) posted a three per cent year-on-year container volume growth to a record 2.2 million TEU in just completed fiscal 2018.
'SCPA had an ambitious growth plan for the 2018 fiscal year, and our progress across all business segments is a true accomplishment,' said SCPA president and CEO Jim Newsome.
'Growth of three per cent in FY2018 on the heels of 10 per cent growth last fiscal year reflects broad-based expansion of the port's cargo base. Our container volume growth is further driven by the upsizing of vessels, with 18 of SCPA's 26 weekly container services utilising neopanamax ships.'
In breakbulk, or non-containerised cargo, Charleston handled 760,501 pier tons from July through June. Within the breakbulk business segment, SCPA moved 232,075 vehicles across the docks of the Columbus Street Terminal in FY2018.
Expansion of cargo at Inland Port Greer played a key role in the Port's overall growth. The facility handled 10,184 rail lifts in June for a total 117,812 rail lifts during the fiscal year. Success of Inland Port Greer was a driver in SCPA's decision to open a second facility, Inland Port Dillon, in April.
In addition to volume growth, SCPA achieved significant progress of key projects in FY2018. The nearly three-year effort to strengthen and refurbish the Wando Welch Terminal wharf will be completed on July 23, when all three terminal berths return to normal operations in conjunction with the commissioning of the terminal's sixth ship-to-shore (STS) crane with 155 feet of lift height.
By the end of the year, two additional cranes of the same size will become operational, with one additional crane to be delivered in late 2019, for the efficient handling of two 13,000-TEUers or larger vessels simultaneously.
A US$370 million project underway at the Wando Terminal will increase capacity by 700,000 TEU by the end of 2019. Upon completion, the terminal will offer 13 STS cranes, including nine cranes with 155 feet of lift height; 62 rubber-tyre gantry cranes and 23 empty handlers; 3,800 feet of wharf, capable of handling three neopanamax ships; an enhanced traffic pattern and 40 gates, including 27 inbound and 13 outbound, for continued efficiency and low turn times; and a new 35-acre chassis yard for the proposed Southern States Chassis Pool.
'SCPA has an aggressive target of 1.3 million pier containers for FY 2019, volume growth that is consistent with our expectations for the further development of the region's cargo base along with the capable infrastructure provided by the Port,' Mr Newsome said.
'We will continue to closely monitor the development of the multilateral trade and tariff discussions for potential impacts,?he said,
Construction on the Charleston Harbour Deepening Project to 52 feet, which began in February, is well underway with three Great Lakes Dock and Dredge Company dredges currently at work in the Entrance Channel.
The next construction contract will be awarded in the fall for dredging the harbour to the Wando Terminal. This contract will include widening the turning basin to 1,850 feet, a benefit that will be realised prior to the slated completion of this construction phase in March 2021.
'SCPA had an ambitious growth plan for the 2018 fiscal year, and our progress across all business segments is a true accomplishment,' said SCPA president and CEO Jim Newsome.
'Growth of three per cent in FY2018 on the heels of 10 per cent growth last fiscal year reflects broad-based expansion of the port's cargo base. Our container volume growth is further driven by the upsizing of vessels, with 18 of SCPA's 26 weekly container services utilising neopanamax ships.'
In breakbulk, or non-containerised cargo, Charleston handled 760,501 pier tons from July through June. Within the breakbulk business segment, SCPA moved 232,075 vehicles across the docks of the Columbus Street Terminal in FY2018.
Expansion of cargo at Inland Port Greer played a key role in the Port's overall growth. The facility handled 10,184 rail lifts in June for a total 117,812 rail lifts during the fiscal year. Success of Inland Port Greer was a driver in SCPA's decision to open a second facility, Inland Port Dillon, in April.
In addition to volume growth, SCPA achieved significant progress of key projects in FY2018. The nearly three-year effort to strengthen and refurbish the Wando Welch Terminal wharf will be completed on July 23, when all three terminal berths return to normal operations in conjunction with the commissioning of the terminal's sixth ship-to-shore (STS) crane with 155 feet of lift height.
By the end of the year, two additional cranes of the same size will become operational, with one additional crane to be delivered in late 2019, for the efficient handling of two 13,000-TEUers or larger vessels simultaneously.
A US$370 million project underway at the Wando Terminal will increase capacity by 700,000 TEU by the end of 2019. Upon completion, the terminal will offer 13 STS cranes, including nine cranes with 155 feet of lift height; 62 rubber-tyre gantry cranes and 23 empty handlers; 3,800 feet of wharf, capable of handling three neopanamax ships; an enhanced traffic pattern and 40 gates, including 27 inbound and 13 outbound, for continued efficiency and low turn times; and a new 35-acre chassis yard for the proposed Southern States Chassis Pool.
'SCPA has an aggressive target of 1.3 million pier containers for FY 2019, volume growth that is consistent with our expectations for the further development of the region's cargo base along with the capable infrastructure provided by the Port,' Mr Newsome said.
'We will continue to closely monitor the development of the multilateral trade and tariff discussions for potential impacts,?he said,
Construction on the Charleston Harbour Deepening Project to 52 feet, which began in February, is well underway with three Great Lakes Dock and Dredge Company dredges currently at work in the Entrance Channel.
The next construction contract will be awarded in the fall for dredging the harbour to the Wando Terminal. This contract will include widening the turning basin to 1,850 feet, a benefit that will be realised prior to the slated completion of this construction phase in March 2021.