Georgia, South Carolina Ports Advance Joint Venture
The Georgia and South Carolina Ports Authorities have signed a new joint venture agreement that provides framework for the two states to work cooperatively toward the development of the Jasper Ocean Terminal (JOT), which will be jointly owned and operated by both port authorities. The updated agreement governs the permitting and planning process for the JOT, including the development of terminal design and supporting infrastructure, plans for financing, and execution of the operational decisions required during the permitting process. The JOT Joint Project Office was first established under an intergovernmental agreement signed in 2008 by the previous Governors of Georgia and South Carolina. This new agreement takes effect immediately and continues the work of the JOT.
SCPA Logs 10% 1Q Growth
South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) saw strong container volume growth during the first quarter of the 2016 fiscal year, with TEU volumes 9.5 percent higher than the same period last year. SCPA handled 167,549 TEUs last month, an 11.1 percent increase from September 2014 volumes. Since the 2016 fiscal year began in July, SCPA has moved 513,299 TEUs. As measured in pier containers, 289,610 boxes have moved across SCPA docks fiscal year to date. Pier container volume is up 8.6 percent from the 266,741 boxes handled during the same period last fiscal year. "Our growth is indicative of broad-based strength across all market segments," said SCPA president and CEO Jim Newsome.
Jasper Ocean Terminal Budget Approved
The Jasper Ocean Terminal (JOT) board of directors met earlier this week to solidify a budget and work plan for FY2016 as well as review work completed during the 2015 fiscal year. The board approved a 2016 fiscal year budget that includes accomplishing further studies of the site design, sediment, access corridor and channel improvements necessary for the largest containerships, as well as efforts to recruit a third party required for completion of an environmental impact study. Cosponsors Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) and SC Ports Authority (SCPA) will each contribute $1.25 million to the FY2016 budget. “This was a watershed meeting for our board,” said board chairman David Posek.
Moffatt & Nichol, Jasper Ocean Terminal Port
Moffatt & Nichol has begun Program Management services on the initial development stages of planning for the Jasper Ocean Terminal proposed to be located on the Savannah River. The project is a cooperative development between the states of Georgia and South Carolina. Program Management services started in January 2009, with initial efforts focused on a two-year schedule of completing the preliminary terminal planning, preparing for the overall permitting process for the development and completion of documents to support design and construction of the terminal elements. Early progress has been made with the completion of economic analyses efforts related to container forecasts…
Bethea to Lead Jasper Port Board
Members of the bi-state board leading the development of a deepwater port in Jasper County unanimously elected William L. Bethea Jr. of Hilton Head, South Carolina, to chair the Jasper Ocean Terminal Joint Project Office (JPO) on Feb. The chairman serves a one-year term and alternates between the two states. James S. Balloun of Georgia served as JPO chairman in 2008 and was elected vice chairman at the meeting. Bethea served for 12 years on the South Carolina State Ports Authority (SCSPA) Board, four of those years as chairman, and has served on the South Carolina Coordinating Council for Economic Development. “This project is vitally important to the economic future of our region and the state of South Carolina,” said Bethea.
