South Carolina Scales Up Ports for Bigger Boats, More Traffic

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--South Carolina is scaling up port facilities in anticipation of mega-sized ships and greater traffic loads. According to American Shipper, the Port of Charleston this year could host for the first time a 14,000-twenty foot equivalent (TEU) container ship following the completion of the Panama Canal expansion.

The South Carolina Port Authority is conducting many expansions to meet the needs of cargo carriers and cruise ships. The authority has reported a 4% increase on return on investment (ROI) midway through this year. Industrial Info is tracking six port authority marine terminal Infrastructure projects worth $5.61 billion dollars.

One such project is the proposed $4.5 billion Jasper Ocean Terminal in Hardeeville, South Carolina. The grassroot facility, a joint project between the South Carolina and Georgia port authorities, would include a 10-berth terminal, a turning basin and road and rail access corridors to increase capacity by 7 million TEUs to handle the largest container ships currently being built. Construction is anticipated to begin in the summer of 2018 and is slated for completion in early 2025.

Listed below are other port-related projects.

• The $500 million Charleston Naval Yard Container Terminal Addition is being completed in phases. Phase I consists of the demolition of existing support buildings, soil testing and site preparation for a 20-acre retention pond and a 5,000 foot containment wall. It also includes relocating 1.75 million cubic yards of dredged material from Daniel Island to the terminal site, which is under construction. Phase II consists of the construction of a wharf, pavement and a container yard naval complex. Construction kicked off in summer of 2007 and is anticipated for completion early 2018.
• The $435 million Charleston Union Pier Cruise Terminal Redevelopment project will relocate operations from Building 325 on the south end to the north end, with renovation of Building 322 plus the addition of 20 new piles for use by cruise ship operations. Construction is anticipated to begin early 2017 and will be completed winter of that year.
• The $10 million Mount Pleasant (Charleston) Columbus Street Terminal State Pier 8 Improvements project will raise and pave 11 acres at the terminal. It includes installation of flexible and rigid pavement as well as pavement repairs and replacements. Construction is anticipated to kick off in the late fall of this year and anticipated for completion in late summer 2017.
• The $60 million Mount Pleasant Wando Welch Wharf Repair and Improvement project in Charleston will strengthening the wharf by adding larger cargo cranes. Also, the 3,650 foot-long dock will undergo electrical upgrades, the replacement of two crane rail beams and installation of a ship fender system. Construction kicked off in the fall of 2015 and is anticipated for completion in early 2018.
• The $509 million Charleston Post 45 Harbor Deepening project will increase depth of Charleston Harbor. About 44.6 miles of channel will be deepened from 45 feet to 52 feet to accommodate post-Panamax vessels. Construction is anticipated to kick off in late spring of 2017, with completion in spring 2019.

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