Charleston Receives First Heavy Lifts for Nuclear Plant

South Carolina handles its first project cargo shipment for Toshiba's Westinghouse Electric Company, more to come over the next few years

The high, wide and heavy cargo arrived at Charleston's Columbus Street Terminal, and is being shipped to the South Carolina Electric & Gas Company's (SCE&G) nuclear plant expansion 30 miles from the state capital of Columbia.

Crews offloaded a large amount of specialty cargo from the 10,500-ton HR Recommendation, operated by BBC Chartering. From there, the cargo moved by rail and truck to SCE&G's project site.

A US$23-million improvement project completed last year at the 135-acre Columbus Street Terminal to enhance the facility's mix of on-dock rail, storage and heavylift capabilities. The terminal handles a variety of non-container freight, including vehicles, other rolling stock, breakbulk, heavylift and project cargo, including power generation equipment.

"This is a project that will boost port volume and maritime jobs over the course of several years," said Jim Newsome, president and CEO of the South Carolina Ports Authority. "We are very pleased that Westinghouse selected the Port of Charleston for this project, which further establishes our port as the premiere east coast port for power generation moves."

In 2011, the Port of Charleston held a full half of the US south Atlantic ports' market share in the non-containerised power generation segment.

The project, which is scheduled for completion in 2018, involves handling about 24,000 tons of equipment that will be deployed at VC Summer Units 2 and 3 in Jenkinsville, SC.

Thirty ships will deliver machinery and equipment - some pieces weighing up to 700 tons apiece - for onward passage by rail and truck to the site.

Westinghouse Electric Company, now part of Japan's Toshiba group, is also a nuclear energy company and is a leading supplier of nuclear plant products and technologies.