South Carolina Ports Exceeding Projections

South Carolina Ports Authority has kicked off the new fiscal year with a 13 percent rise in container volumes handled in the first two months of the fiscal calendar. The SCPA handled 163,970 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in August, an increase from 144,649 TEUs moved during the same month last year and 153,916 handled in July, which is 12.2 percent more than planned.

As measured in pier containers, July and August volumes are up 13.5 percent year over year. SCPA moved 93,221 boxes in August for a total of 181,103 pier containers to date in FY2015.

In non-containerized cargo, Charleston breakbulk tonnage is on plan with 134,105 tonnes handled in August.

Georgetown saw a strong month, with fiscal year to date volumes up 6.6 percent over the same period last year. Georgetown handled 124,080 pier tons in July and August.

“Strong container volumes are driving exceptional fiscal year to date operating earnings, which were nearly 70 percent higher than last July and August,” said SCPA president and CEO Jim Newsome.

“Over the next several months, we will be watching the development of vessel sharing agreements and evaluating the impacts they will have on our FY2015 volumes, as well as implementing our new customer contract approach.”

The SCPA also confirmed that it will receive a USD 10.8 million dollar Transportation Infrastructure Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant for planned upgrades and improvements to the Wando terminal.

Maritime Administrator Paul N. Jaenichen held a press conference at SCPA to formally announce the award and discuss national transportation and infrastructure needs with maritime and community leaders.