CONTAINER YARD IMPROVEMENTS - A 34-acre container storage area at Columbus Street Terminal will undergo $5.9 million in improvements over the coming nine months. The area will be raised and paved, preparing it for a grounded container operation utilizing rubber-tired gantry cranes. Today the State Ports Authority (SPA) Board approved the contract for Sanders Brothers Construction of North Charleston to perform the work. The primary carrier customer at Columbus Street is the alliance of Cosco, "K" Line and Yang Ming.
THREE TOPLIFTERS - Gregory Poole Equipment will provide three container handlers at a cost of $600,000 for use at the Wando Welch Terminal. In addition, six new rubber-tired gantry cranes recently were added to the Wando fleet. The four new Paceco/Hyundai super post-panamax container cranes have been delivered to the Wando and are operational.
MAINTENANCE DREDGING - The SPA Board today also approved a $366,400 contract for Marinex Construction of Johns Island to perform maintenance dredging in berths one and two at Columbus Street Terminal. Approximately 100,000 cubic yards of material will be removed and deposited on Drum Island to maintain the project depth of 45 feet at mean low water.
PORT EXPANSION - The SPA Board continued its review of port expansion alternatives today with a review of environmental, traffic and social impacts of the three options. The Cooper River side of Daniel Island would have the least impact on wetlands and river bottom, while the Navy Base would have a greater near-term impact on water quality. All three sites require improvements to local roadways. In addition, the existing Draft EIS will have to be substantially modified or amended, and a new scoping process public hearing will be held.
MAERSK-SEALAND CONTRACT - The Ports Authority announced today that it has received verbal commitment to a new contract with Maersk-Sealand to continue using the Port of Charleston. Very soon the SPA expects to sign the contract, which features an initial four-year term with four five-year extensions. Maersk-Sealand is the world's largest ocean carrier, serving more than 100 countries from the Port of Charleston.
HANJIN MAKES IT 10 FOR 10 - Each of the 10 largest shipping lines in the world now offer service between Charleston and the earth's four corners. The world's fourth largest shipping line, South Korea's Hanjin Shipping, recently said it would begin offering service between Charleston and North Europe early next year. Beginning perhaps in February, Hanjin will buy space on ships in an existing service operated by Cosco, Yang Ming, and "K" Line. Charleston is the first port visited inbound from Le Havre, France and the last port ships call before returning across the Atlantic Ocean to Antwerp, Belgium.