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SC Ports Authority Posts 10% Container Growth in 2015

[ February 1, 2016   //   ]

South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) posted 10% container growth in 2015, a year highlighted by strong volumes and significant progress on the harbor deepening project.

SCPA handled 144,718 TEUs in December, pushing total container volume to 1.97 million in 2015.

As measured in pier containers, or total boxes handled, SCPA’s two container terminals moved 1.12 million boxes in 2015, an increase of 9.54% over 1.02 million containers handled last year.

“Our 10% TEU volume growth for the 2015 calendar year is outstanding,” said Jim Newsome, SCPA president and CEO. “Successful recruitment of discretionary cargo has been an important driver of volumes, as well as continued strength of the automotive sector. However, looking ahead to the second half of our 2016 fiscal year, we expect flat to very modest growth due largely to weakness in overseas markets. Because of the Panama Canal expansion delay, we will not see new ship deployments of significance until FY2017.”

Non-containerized cargo business volume was strong in 2015, with 1.34 million pier tons handled during the year. Finished vehicle volume grew 13% year over year, with 268,964 vehicles crossing SCPA docks in 2015.

The Inland Port handled 7,824 rail moves in December, more than double the facility’s December volume last year. The facility’s rail volumes grew 76.5% during its second full calendar year of operation, with 75,111 total rail moves completed in 2015.

In addition to strong volume growth during the year, Newsome also highlighted the successful progress of the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project. With the issuance of the Chief’s Report in September and signing of the PreConstruction Engineering and Design Agreement in December, the project continued to move forward with historic momentum through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers planning process. Last week the project cleared another milestone with the Record of Decision, the formal recommendation of the project to Congress for authorization.

The Board approved two contracts related to the development of the Hugh K. Leatherman, Sr. Terminal, including consultancy services for the concept design phase and a change order for additional construction activities pertaining to the containment wall. The facility will increase SCPA’s current container capacity by 50%, with the first phase expected to open for operations by 2020.

To accommodate rapid growth within SCPA’s refrigerated cargo market, the Board also approved a construction contract for the installation of additional refrigerated container infrastructure at the Wando Welch Terminal.

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