Scpa Board News

South Carolina Ports Authority celebrated the dedication of a new headquarters building at the Wando Welch Terminal with its Board of Directors, local leaders, business partners and employees.The Ports Authority, which owns and operates public seaport facilities in Charleston and Georgetown, as well as Inland Ports in Greer, South Carolina and Dillon, South Carolina, said in a press note that the 80,000-square-foot building consolidates approximately 160 employees working from multiple office locations in the Charleston area.Accoding to the press release, the building design features a glass atrium in the lobby extending up all four floors and a terrazzo floor pattern depicting the Charleston Peninsula and waterways.

Jim Newsome, president and CEO, highlights cooperation and collaboration.South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) president and CEO, Jim Newsome, presented the annual State of the Port to an audience of approximately 600 customers, elected officials and shipping industry representatives at the Charleston Area Convention Center. Jim’s presentation focused on the Port’s successes, strategic infrastructure investments to support continued container volume growth, new initiatives to increase Port productivity and overall industry trends that will impact the Port in the future. The Propeller Club of Charleston hosted the event which marked Newsome’s tenth address since joining SCPA in 2009.SC Ports volumes for the 2018 fiscal year, which ran July 2017 through June 2018, were record-breaking.

The Charleston Harbor Deepening Project was named one of six “new starts” and received $17.5 million in construction funding in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Fiscal Year 17 Work Plan released today, allowing construction on the project to begin this fall as scheduled. Charleston also received $16.1 million in operations and maintenance dollars, which provide for the routine maintenance dredging of the harbor necessary for construction begin. Collectively the funds allocated in the Work Plan allow Charleston to continue moving forward and preparing for construction. “This is monumental news for the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project…

Cranes: much more than just critical equipment. At ZPMC, it means the supply chain itself. In post-Panamax world – that is to say one which includes an expanded, deepened and improved Panama Canal – there are many layers to the logistics onion. These include reinforced and improved berths and bollards, deepened blue water harbors, improved intermodal connections ashore and a reshuffling of ever larger tonnage for ports that can handle those ships. All of that is important, of course, but it is the post-Panamax sized cranes which may be the hottest commodity on the water as the race for the cargo reaches full speed. How those cranes are sourced and acquired may surprise you. It turns out that the global crane business is very much a ‘turnkey’ operation.

Today's passage of S.612, the Water Infrastructure Improvement for the Nation Act (WIIN), formerly known as Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), by the U.S. House of Representatives, moves the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project closer to securing the authorization necessary to begin construction. "We applaud the House for passing this legislation before the end of the year, which is critical to modernizing ports and port-related infrastructure across the country," said Jim Newsome, SCPA President and CEO. "The South Carolina Delegation worked extremely hard to move this bill forward. Thanks to their support, we are well-positioned to be the deepest harbor on the East Coast by the end of the decade. We remain hopeful that the U.S.

Bill includes construction authorization for Charleston Harbor Deepening Project. Today's passage of S.612, the Water Infrastructure Improvement for the Nation Act (WIIN), formerly known as Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), by the U.S. House of Representatives, moves the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project closer to securing the authorization necessary to begin construction. "We applaud the House for passing this legislation before the end of the year, which is critical to modernizing ports and port-related infrastructure across the country," said Jim Newsome, SCPA President and CEO. "The South Carolina Delegation worked extremely hard to move this bill forward. Thanks to their support, we are well-positioned to be the deepest harbor on the East Coast by the end of the decade.

Plans to develop South Carolina’s second inland port in Dillon were announced by the South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) in a move that aims to support growth of intermodal container volumes and expand access to markets in neighboring states and throughout the Northeast and Midwest, according to the SCPA. A resolution authorizing the port to move forward with construction of the terminal in the Carolinas I-95 Mega Site was unanimously approved by the SCPA Board of Directors. SCPA will break ground on the new terminal in the first quarter of 2017, and plans to open the facility by the end of the year. “Inland Port Dillon will be a great diversification of our state's logistics footprint,” said Jim Newsome, SCPA president and CEO.

Today South Carolina Ports Authority reported 2016 fiscal year-end operating earnings of $39 million, revenues of $211 million and operating expenses of $172 million. "The Port closed the FY2016 books with solid financials, reflecting our commitment to achieving the necessary performance to support our aggressive capital investment plan," said SCPA Board Chairman Pat McKinney. The positive financial report comes on the heels of FY2016 container volume growth reported last month. SCPA handled 1.9 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) during the period, an increase of 1.4 percent over the previous fiscal year. "With modest container volume growth in spite of a tepid world economy and operating earnings up over last year…

The delivery of two super post-Panamax cranes at South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) on Friday marked another step in the port’s push for big ship readiness, to be followed in the coming years by the completion of the Wando Welch wharf project and harbor deepening to 52 feet. The cranes, produced by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. (ZPMC) in China, provide 155 feet of lift height from the dock to enable SCPA to work larger container cargo ships. The cranes will be located at the Wando Welch Terminal…

The South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) announced plans to bring solar power to the Wando Welch and Columbus Street terminals, making SCPA the largest rooftop solar host in the state. Two solar panel arrays generating 3.7 total megawatts of electricity will be installed on warehouse rooftops at the two SCPA terminals by summer 2016. SCPA said the panels will provide a significant offset to the port's energy usage, returning power to the grid during peak hours of energy demand and resulting in a direct reduction to power costs. “The solar project is an exciting step that deepens the port's ongoing efforts to be an environmental leader in our industry,” said Pat McKinney, SCPA Board Chair.

South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) posted 10 percent container growth in 2015, a year highlighted by strong volumes and significant progress on the harbor deepening project. SCPA handled 144,718 twenty-foot equivalent units (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 percent over 1.02 million containers handled last year.

The South Carolina Ports Authority announced a fiscal year-to-date container volume increase of seven percent, with 678,033 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) handled since July. SCPA moved 164,734 TEUs in October. From a calendar year-to-date perspective, SCPA has seen container volume increase 11 percent over last year with 1,674,891 TEUs handled since January. As measured in pier containers, 93,046 boxes moved across SCPA docks last month. Fiscal year to date, SCPA has handled 382,656 pier containers for an increase of six percent over the same period last year. Non-containerized cargo tonnage also continued to climb through October, with fiscal year-to-date volumes 19 percent ahead of plan.

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.

On the heels of announcing its five-year growth, investment and cargo base expansion plans at the State of the Port, South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) reported a four percent increase in August container volumes over the same month last year. SCPA said it handled 170,528 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in August. With 345,751 TEUs moved during the first two months of the 2016 fiscal year, container volume is up 8.8 percent year-over-year. As measured in pier containers, nearly 97,000 boxes moved across SCPA docks in August. Fiscal year-to-date pier container volume is up 8.1 percent, with 195,703 boxes handled during the last two months. "August was a strong month across all business segments," said Jim Newsome, SCPA president and CEO.

Press Release - The 52-foot Charleston Harbor Deepening Project announced receipt of its Chief's Report from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, their final substantive approval required for the project to progress through construction. The report by Lieutenant General Thomas Bostick, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to the Secretary of the Army outlines the recommendation of deepening the Charleston Harbor channel to 52 feet and entrance channel to 54 feet, as well as enlarging turning basins to accommodate for post-Panamax vessels calling South Carolina Port Authority's (SCPA) container terminals. After review by the Secretary's office…

Today SC Ports Authority reported 2015 fiscal year-end operating earnings of $30.4 million and revenues of $196.8 million, significant increases over the previous year's financial performance. From July through June, SCPA more than doubled its previous fiscal year's operating earnings of $14.3 million, while operating revenues increased 20 percent over FY2014 revenues of $32.6 million. Total operating expenses for the 2015 fiscal year totaled $166.3 million. "The strong financial…

Charleston Harbor deepening project earns key federal funding for preconstruction engineering and design; U.S. Today SC Ports Authority announced $1.303 million in federal funding for the Post-45 Harbor deepening project, allowing the preconstruction engineering and design (PED) phase of the 52-foot deepening effort to begin. The announcement follows last week's U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Review Board (CWRB) approval to release the project's Final Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement for final review, another critical step of federal approval for the S.C. Port Authority to provide the deepest harbor on the East Coast. "The allocation of federal funding for the PED phase of our deepening project is tremendous," said SCPA Board Chairman Bill Stern.

U.S. Today in Washington, DC, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Review Board (CWRB) unanimously approved the Final Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement for the Charleston Post-45 Harbor Deepening project, a significant step in the federal process that ensures the project is on schedule to receive its Chief's Report this September. "Today's approval by the Civil Works Review Board allows our harbor deepening project to progress without delay," said Jim Newsome, SCPA president and CEO. "Once deepening to 52 feet is realized, Charleston will offer the deepest harbor on the East Coast with the capability to serve fully-loaded post-Panamax vessels 24 hours a day.

Following a record-setting month of container volumes achieved in May, the South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) board of directors looked ahead to a favorable 2016 fiscal year today with the adoption of a financial plan that includes continued cargo growth, increased operating revenues and significant capital investments. The plan projects pier container volume of 1.15 million boxes during FY2016, a 7.2 percent increase over projected totals for the current fiscal year. Strong growth at the inland port is also planned…

The South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) FY 2016 budget contained approximately $20 million for strategic South Carolina port projects, including critical operations and maintenance dollars and construction dollars that support Charleston's vital shipping channels. These recommendations exceed last year's totals by $5 million. "This budget highlights the valuable role South Carolina plays in the global marketplace, and we continue to be deeply appreciative of the commitment the Administration…

The SC Ports Authority announced another month of double-digit container growth, with fiscal year-to-date volumes up 13 percent year over year. The port handled 144,218 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in November, an increase of 8 percent over the same month last year. Fiscal year to date TEU volumes are 11 percent ahead of plan, with 777,566 TEUs handled since July. As measured in pier containers, SCPA handled 82,466 boxes last month, an increase of 10 percent over November 2013 volumes. Fiscal year to date, pier container volume is up 14 percent year over year.

The South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) announced today that October volumes were up nearly 17 percent year over year, continuing a growth trend in container traffic well above the organization's financial plan. SCPA handled 164,672 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in October, up from 141,049 TEUs moved during the same month last year. Fiscal year to date, TEU volumes are up 14 percent and nearly 13 percent ahead of plan. As measured in pier containers, October volume increased 19 percent over the same month last year, with 94,470 boxes moved.

Today the US Army Corps of Engineers released the Draft Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement for the Post-45 Harbor Deepening project, recommending that the Charleston Harbor be deepened to 52 feet. "The Port of Charleston's ability to handle post-Panamax vessels 24 hours a day without tidal restriction is critical to the future competitiveness of our state port system," said Jim Newsome, SCPA president and CEO. "Completion of our harbor deepening project to 52 feet ensures that SCPA will continue to grow above the market average and remain a top ten port, facilitating trade and economic development for our entire state, region and nation.