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CHARLESTON, SC — OCT. 12, 2021 — South Carolina Ports had a record September for containers as the Port of Charleston continues to efficiently handle the boom in retail imports.

SC Ports moved 205,008 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) at Wando Welch Terminal, North Charleston Terminal and Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal in September, setting a record for the month. This is a 5% increase year-over-year.

Fiscal-year-to-date, SC Ports has handled 684,517 TEUs at its container terminals, up nearly 18% from the same time a year ago.

SC Ports handled 113,486 pier containers, which account for boxes of any size, in September. This is up 5% from last year. SC Ports has handled 381,373 pier containers thus far in fiscal year 2022, up nearly 18% year-over-year.

SC Ports also had a record September for import volumes, handling 98,208 TEUs of loaded imports, a 9% increase from last September. U.S. consumers continue to spend more on retail goods during the pandemic, spurring record volumes since March and consistently strong retail imports.

“SC Ports kicks off fiscal year 2022 with a record first quarter. The Port of Charleston is handling more retail goods, home goods, furniture, appliances and electronics than ever before,” SC Ports President and CEO Jim Newsome said. “While the global supply chain remains under tremendous pressure, SC Ports is fortunate to have invested in the right port infrastructure at the right time. We have the cargo capacity, berth availability and terminal fluidity that retailers need to quickly move their cargo as we head into the peak season.”

SC Ports also handled 61,705 TEUs of loaded exports at the Port of Charleston in September, up 2% year-over-year.

Vehicles remained steady with 21,346 vehicles rolling across the docks of Columbus Street Terminal in September. Fiscal-year-to-date, SC Ports has handled 62,840 vehicles.

SC Ports’ Inland Port Greer also handled record containers in September, with 13,064 rail moves for the month, while Inland Port Dillon reported 2,133 rail moves in September. SC Ports’ rail-served inland ports extend the Port of Charleston’s reach inland, enabling the swift movement of cargo for customers throughout the Southeast and Midwest.

“As the slowdown in cargo velocity is felt throughout the global supply chain, SC Ports remains focused on providing customized solutions and efficient operations to keep freight moving,” Newsome said. “By investing more than $2 billion in port infrastructure in recent years, we have the capacity to handle the influx of imports we are seeing today.”

CHARLESTON, SC — OCT. 5, 2021 — South Carolina Ports President and CEO Jim Newsome is being inducted into the prestigious International Maritime Hall of Fame in recognition of his impressive career in the maritime industry.

“The inductees are industry leaders representing a broad spectrum of the global shipping industry,” Edward Kelly, executive director of the Maritime Association of the Port of New York and New Jersey, said of the inductees being honored tonight in New York City. “They have won the respect of the international shipping community based on their successes and professionalism and are much deserving of this distinguished honor.”

2021 Inductees:

• Jim Newsome, president and CEO, South Carolina Ports Authority, Charleston, S.C.
• Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, president and CEO, Celebrity Cruises Inc., Miami, Fla.
• James R. Mara, president emeritus, Metropolitan Marine Maintenance Contractors’ Association, Rutherford, N.J.
• Nikolas P. Tsakos, president and CEO, Tsakos Energy Navigation Corp., Athens, Greece
• Lois K. Zabrocky, president and CEO, International Seaways Inc., New York City

Newsome has served at the helm of South Carolina Ports since 2009, working to ensure the Port of Charleston remains globally competitive as a top 10 U.S. container port.

During his tenure, Newsome has significantly enhanced port operations and grown the port’s cargo base with strategic investments, resulting in cargo volumes doubling in a decade.

Newsome has successfully undertaken vital infrastructure projects. Most notably, SC Ports opened the first container terminal in the country in March 2021 — the Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal — adding significant capacity to the East Coast port market at a time it is most needed in the supply chain.

Port growth continues to spur economic development, with SC Ports creating 1 in 10 jobs in South Carolina.

“Jim leads SC Ports with great vision, decisiveness and enthusiasm,” SC Ports COO Barbara Melvin said. “He encourages his team to lead alongside him and pursue bold ideas to further strategic initiatives for our world-class port. SC Ports has grown immensely under his leadership, leading to significant job creation and economic growth throughout South Carolina.”

Newsome is the longest serving head of a major container port in the U.S. Before assuming the helm of SC Ports in 2009, he was the president of Hapag-Lloyd (America) Inc. and previously worked with Nedlloyd Lines.

“Jim’s impressive career in the maritime industry spans his time in container shipping and more than 12 years as CEO of SC Ports,” SC Ports Board Chairman Bill Stern said. “Jim has dedicated his time and talents to ensuring that SC Ports continues to grow above the market. He has truly made a significant and lasting impact on South Carolina’s economy and supply chain. We all benefit greatly from his leadership.”

Newsome received his bachelor’s degree in transportation and logistics and his MBA from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He remains very involved with the University of Tennessee, serving on the Dean’s Advisory Council of the University of Tennessee Haslam College of Business.

Newsome established the Mr. and Mrs. James I Newsome Jr. Scholarship for supply chain management students and has mentored students in the Global Supply Chain Institute in the Haslam College of Business. The university honored him with the Distinguished Service Award for his exemplary contributions to both the logistics field and the Haslam College of Business.

Newsome has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance’s Roger Milliken Defender of Manufacturing Award, DC Velocity’s Logistics Rainmaker Award, and the Containerization and Intermodal Institute’s Connie Award.

About South Carolina Ports Authority

South Carolina Ports Authority, established by the state’s General Assembly in 1942, owns and operates public seaport and intermodal facilities in Charleston, Dillon, Georgetown and Greer. As an economic development engine for the state, Port operations facilitate 225,000 statewide jobs and generate nearly $63.4 billion in annual economic activity. SC Ports is soon to be home to the deepest harbor on the U.S. East Coast at 52 feet. SC Ports is an industry leader in delivering speed-to-market, seamless processes and flexibility to ensure reliable operations, big ship handling, efficient market reach and environmental responsibility. Please visit www.scspa.com to learn more about SC Ports.

CHARLESTON, SC — SEPT. 29, 2021 — South Carolina Ports welcomes its 2021-2022 Port Ambassadors class, which consists of 26 delegates from around the state who will gain a deep understanding of how SC Ports and commerce are connected in South Carolina.

SC Ports’ Port Ambassador Program is a year-long curriculum that provides an in-depth look into port operations, highlighting the connection between SC Ports and South Carolina’s economy. SC Ports generates a $63.4 billion annual economic impact and creates 1 in 10 S.C. jobs.

“We are thrilled to have such an impressive and diverse group of South Carolina leaders participating in our 2021-2022 Port Ambassador Program,” said Jordi Yarborough, SC Ports’ senior vice president of community engagement. “Ambassadors see firsthand how SC Ports works every day to keep freight moving for South Carolina consumers and companies, as well as the significant economic impact SC Ports has on our communities.”

Throughout the year, ambassadors will partake in tours of marine terminals, inland ports and port customers’ facilities to see how SC Ports moves cargo for S.C. manufacturers, retailers and farmers.

Ambassadors will also hear from SC Ports’ teammates, as well as S.C. legislators and business leaders, about how critical it is to have a world-class port in South Carolina. They will see port infrastructure up close and learn how strategic investments enable a fluid supply chain.

The new class kicked off with a recent visit to SC Ports’ headquarters in Mount Pleasant to learn about infrastructure projects and day-to-day operations. Ambassadors toured Wando Welch Terminal and ventured up 155-foot-tall ship-to-shore cranes to gain the perspective of a crane operator loading and unloading ships.

“Seeing firsthand how the terminal operates gave me a much better understanding of South Carolina’s supply chain,” said Felicia Howard, a port ambassador and vice president of economic development strategy at Dominion Energy. “The experience reinforced the importance of SC Ports’ role in supporting companies as they invest and expand in our state, which ultimately creates more jobs for South Carolinians.”

The Port Ambassador Program is designed to increase public awareness, understanding and support for SC Ports’ strategic plan and initiatives. SC Ports launched the program in 2016; more than 100 ambassadors have since graduated.

Participants are selected from nominations by the Review and Oversight Commission on the State Ports Authority, SC Ports Board of Directors and the SC Ports senior management team.

2021-2022 Port Ambassadors:

• Juwan Ayers, commercial banker with Synovus Bank, Charleston
• Karl Brady, Charleston City Councilmember and donor relations manager for the Carolina Youth Development Center, Charleston
• LaJoia Broughton, government relations advisor with Adams & Reese, Columbia
• Jennifer Brown, director of business development for Charleston County Economic Development, North Charleston
• James Brunson, family physician with Orangeburg Medical, Orangeburg
• Jody Bryson, president and CEO of SC Technology and Aviation Center, Greenville
• Willis Cantey, president and CEO of Cantey Tech Consulting, Charleston
• Tushar Chikhliker, attorney with Nexsen Pruet, Columbia
• Brian Frerichs, senior vice president and branch manager with Stephens Private Wealth Management, Sumter
• Rob Honeycutt, CEO and co-founder of SixAxis, Pawley’s Island
• Felicia Howard, vice president of economic development strategy with Dominion Energy, Columbia
• Pat Hudson, of counsel with Willoughby & Hoefer, Blythewood
• Andrew Lesinski, vice president and general manager of brokerage, Cardinal Logistics, Indian Land
• Edward McKelvey, senior vice president of community development banking with South State Bank, North Charleston
• Christopher McKinney, CEO and executive director of Santee-Lynches Regional Council of Governments, Sumter
• Phillip Obie, Berkeley County Councilmember and manager of coal combustion products and Ash Pond closure with Santee Cooper, Goose Creek
• Bill Otis, former mayor of Pawley’s Island, Pawley’s Island
• Robby Robbins, attorney with Thurmond Kirchner & Timbes, Summerville
• Joan Robinson-Berry, former senior vice president and chief engineer with Boeing, Charleston
• Will Salters, client development manager with Terracon, Charleston
• Heather Simmons-Jones, senior advisor with MRB Group, Charleston
• Lynn Stokes-Murray, director of government affairs with Burr Forman, Columbia
• Rebecca Vance, president of Vance LLC, Summerville
• Jim Wanner, CEO of Keymark, Liberty
• Clay Williams, broker with NAI Earle Furman, Greenville
• Natalie Zeigler, city administrator for the City of Goose Creek, Goose Creek

About South Carolina Ports Authority

South Carolina Ports Authority, established by the state's General Assembly in 1942, owns and operates public seaport and intermodal facilities in Charleston, Dillon, Georgetown and Greer. As an economic development engine for the state, Port operations facilitate 225,000 statewide jobs and generate nearly $63.4 billion in annual economic activity. SC Ports is soon to be home to the deepest harbor on the U.S. East Coast at 52 feet. SC Ports is an industry leader in delivering speed-to-market, seamless processes and flexibility to ensure reliable operations, big ship handling, efficient market reach and environmental responsibility. Please visit www.scspa.com to learn more about SC Ports.

CHARLESTON, SC — SEPT. 9, 2021 — South Carolina Ports saw strong container volumes in August as retail imports continue to flow into the Port of Charleston.

SC Ports moved 234,688 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) at Wando Welch Terminal, North Charleston Terminal and Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal in August, setting a record for the month. The TEU volumes are up 12% year-over-year. Fiscal-year-to-date, SC Ports has handled 479,509 TEUs, up 24% from the same time a year ago.

SC Ports handled 130,729 pier containers, which account for boxes of any size, in August. This is up 12% from last year. SC Ports has handled 267,887 pier containers thus far in fiscal year 2022, up 24% year-over-year.

The U.S. continues to see record import volumes as consumers spend more on retail goods than services during the pandemic. SC Ports handled 114,671 import containers in August, up 18% year-over-year.

“SC Ports planned well for this growth by investing more than $2 billion in port infrastructure in recent years to handle rising cargo volumes and retail imports,” SC Ports President and CEO Jim Newsome said. “Phase One of Leatherman Terminal adds 700,000 TEUs of capacity and an additional berth to the East Coast port market, and the three-berth Wando Welch Terminal works mega container ships every day.”

SC Ports saw a strong August for the vehicle segment with 26,044 vehicles rolling across the docks of Columbus Street Terminal. Inland port activity remained steady in August, with 11,902 rail lifts reported at Inland Port Greer and 2,635 rail moves handled at Inland Port Dillon.

“Shippers and retailers can rely on SC Ports’ efficient operations, cargo capacity and berth availability to keep goods moving through the Southeast supply chain,” Newsome said. “The global supply chain is however under tremendous stress due to disruptions from the pandemic. The slowdown in cargo velocity that we are currently experiencing due to a number of supply chain constraints is concerning as we head into the peak season this fall.”

About South Carolina Ports Authority

South Carolina Ports Authority, established by the state's General Assembly in 1942, owns and operates public seaport and intermodal facilities in Charleston, Dillon, Georgetown and Greer. As an economic development engine for the state, Port operations facilitate 225,000 statewide jobs and generate nearly $63.4 billion in annual economic activity. SC Ports is soon to be home to the deepest harbor on the U.S. East Coast at 52 feet. SC Ports is an industry leader in delivering speed-to-market, seamless processes and flexibility to ensure reliable operations, big ship handling, efficient market reach and environmental responsibility. Please visit www.scspa.com to learn more about SC Ports.

CHARLESTON, SC – AUG. 9, 2021 – South Carolina Ports had a strong start to fiscal year 2022 with its highest July on record for containers moving through the Port of Charleston.

SC Ports handled a record-setting 244,821 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in July at Wando Welch Terminal, North Charleston Terminal and Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal. This is up 38% from a year ago.

SC Ports moved 137,158 pier containers, which accounts for boxes of any size, in July. This is a 38% increase year-over-year.

These impressive volumes mark the second highest all-time monthly record for containers handled at the Port of Charleston. Loaded imports also set an all-time record in July, with a 47% increase year-over-year, as retail continues to boom. Loaded exports were up 14%.

SC Ports handled 15,450 vehicles at Columbus Street Terminal in July, while Inland Port Greer and Inland Port Dillon handled a combined 13,976 rail moves.

“We begin our fiscal year 2022 with record container volumes, which comes on the heels of moving more containers than ever before in fiscal year 2021,” SC Ports President and CEO Jim Newsome said. “While import and export loaded containers are both growth segments, the widening disparity of imports over exports is continued evidence of the strength of the U.S. consumer. As the only port in the country with new terminal capacity, SC Ports has the ability to handle the growing cargo volumes and rising retail imports.”

SC Ports greatly increased capacity over the past year. Phase One of the Leatherman Terminal adds 700,000 TEUs of capacity and an additional berth to the booming East Coast port market. The state-of-the-art container terminal can handle a 20,000-TEU vessel.

Work is also ongoing to enhance Wando Welch Terminal, expand Inland Port Greer and develop near-dock rail close to Leatherman Terminal. These infrastructure projects work together to significantly strengthen the Southeast supply chain.

“Our strategic investments are proving beneficial as we handle unprecedented cargo volumes in support of our customers,” Newsome said. “As more major retailers move goods through the Port of Charleston, we are ready with efficient operations, thanks to our excellent maritime community.”

About South Carolina Ports Authority

South Carolina Ports Authority, established by the state's General Assembly in 1942, owns and operates public seaport and intermodal facilities in Charleston, Dillon, Georgetown and Greer. As an economic development engine for the state, Port operations facilitate 225,000 statewide jobs and generate nearly $63.4 billion in annual economic activity. SC Ports is soon to be home to the deepest harbor on the U.S. East Coast at 52 feet. SC Ports is an industry leader in delivering speed-to-market, seamless processes and flexibility to ensure reliable operations, big ship handling, efficient market reach and environmental responsibility. Please visit www.scspa.com to learn more about SC Ports.

CHARLESTON, SC — JULY 13, 2021 — South Carolina Ports celebrates its strongest fiscal year on record for containers handled at the Port of Charleston.

SC Ports handled 2.55 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) at Wando Welch Terminal, North Charleston Terminal and Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal in fiscal year 2021, ended June 30 — a 9.6% increase from fiscal year 2020.

SC Ports moved 1.42 million pier containers, which measures containers of any size, in fiscal year 2021. This is up 7.7% from the prior fiscal year.

Vehicles remained a strong business segment, with 253,981 vehicles rolling across the docks of Columbus Street Terminal in fiscal year 2021, up 27.0% compared to the year prior.

SC Ports two rail-served inland ports set cargo records in fiscal year 2021, with a combined 192,844 rail moves recorded, up 11.7% from a year ago. Inland Port Greer moved 157,842 rail moves in fiscal year 2021, up 12.6%, while Inland Port Dillon had 35,002 rail moves, up nearly 7.9%.

When fiscal year 2021 started last July, many businesses and ports were impacted from pandemic closures. This was soon followed by an unanticipated boom in imports as consumers’ buying habits shifted from services and travel to retail and home goods.

SC Ports saw strength in containerized, vehicle and inland port business segments throughout fiscal year 2021, including achieving record monthly year-over-year container volumes for the past four consecutive months.

“While the global pandemic has placed great strain on global supply chains, it has also highlighted how incredibly vital maritime, motor carrier and logistics workers are to the supply chain,” SC Ports President and CEO Jim Newsome. “They are keeping freight moving while handling unprecedented cargo increases. We owe them much gratitude for their hard work over the past year.”

June volumes

In addition to a record fiscal year, SC Ports had a record June for its container business segment. SC Ports moved 231,758 TEUs in June, which is up 48.1% compared to June 2020 and up 15.6% compared to June 2019.

The Port of Charleston handled 128,622 pier containers in June, a 44.5% increase from June 2020 and a 13.8% increase compared to June 2019.

SC Ports had a strong month for vehicles. The Port handled 23,096 vehicles in June, a 60.7% increase year-over-year and a 25.3% jump from June 2019.

In June, Inland Port Greer reported 13,383 rail moves and Inland Port Dillon recorded 2,593 rail moves.

Investing in capacity

SC Ports had a milestone year for bringing infrastructure online and adding capacity to the U.S. East Coast port market at a time when it is most needed.

Phase One of Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal began operations in March, marking the first greenfield container terminal to open in the U.S. since 2009. Leatherman Terminal adds a 1,400-foot berth and 700,000 TEUs of capacity to the Port of Charleston.

SC Ports also kicked off an expansion at Inland Port Greer, further enhanced Wando Welch Terminal, and saw significant progress with the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project, which will yield 52 feet of depth in 2022.

“We have been highly focused on delivering world-class infrastructure at the right time,” Newsome said. “We accomplished this in fiscal year 2021, most notably with the opening of Leatherman Terminal, which adds much needed capacity for customers.”

Cargo owners need a reliable supply chain as demand for goods continues. SC Ports enters fiscal year 2022 with enhanced infrastructure and ample capacity to handle rising retail imports and cargo volumes.

“We have planned our capacity well for the next decade and beyond with the infrastructure that we are delivering,” Newsome said. “In fiscal year 2022, we will continue to invest in our port to provide more capacity and reliability for our customers as we grow above the market. We have the best team and maritime community to accomplish our goals in the year ahead.”

About South Carolina Ports Authority

South Carolina Ports Authority, established by the state's General Assembly in 1942, owns and operates public seaport and intermodal facilities in Charleston, Dillon, Georgetown and Greer. As an economic development engine for the state, Port operations facilitate 225,000 statewide jobs and generate nearly $63.4 billion in annual economic activity. SC Ports is soon to be home to the deepest harbor on the U.S. East Coast at 52 feet. SC Ports is an industry leader in delivering speed-to-market, seamless processes and flexibility to ensure reliable operations, big ship handling, efficient market reach and environmental responsibility. Please visit www.scspa.com to learn more about SC Ports.

CHARLESTON, SC — June 24, 2021 — South Carolina Ports’ Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal has been named 2021 South Carolina Project of the Year by the South Carolina Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

This prestigious award recognizes the complex engineering and construction process behind the Leatherman Terminal’s Phase One, and it celebrates the extensive collaboration among numerous partners needed to realize the $1 billion project.

The state-of-the-art container terminal can efficiently work the biggest ships calling on East Coast ports. Phase One was completed on budget and ahead of schedule. The terminal handled its first container on March 30 and welcomed its first vessel on April 9.

“SC Ports is immensely proud to open the first container terminal in the U.S. since 2009 in South Carolina, adding capacity to the East Coast port market at a time it is sorely needed,” SC Ports President and CEO Jim Newsome said. “The opening of Leatherman Terminal is the culmination of years of effort by our talented engineering team and project partners. It is their expertise, vision and hard work that made this container terminal a reality.”

Project partners had to navigate challenging site conditions and oversee a complicated project while managing multiple contracts and hundreds of people working on the site every day. The SC Ports’ engineering team worked with many contractors, including primary contract holders HDR Inc., Banks Construction Co., Samet Corp., Cape Romain/McLean A Joint Venture and Cape Romain Contractors Inc., as well as many South Carolina-based secondary contractors.

Many efforts contributed to the success of the project and the opening of Phase One, including SC Ports’ clear vision of its needs and priorities, and a collaborative spirit that encouraged innovation among all partners working on the site.

Additional strategies proved to be critical to project success, such as:

• A design and contracting strategy that prioritized local participation, with more than 80% of the dollars spent on construction contracts being awarded to S.C.-based firms.
• Value engineering at the beginning of the construction process that discovered tens of millions of dollars in savings.
• A risk management process that anticipated and proactively managed obstacles.

“Building and operating a port is like orchestrating an intricate ballet,” SC Ports COO Barbara Melvin said. “This momentous achievement of opening and operating our world-class facility is the result of tremendous collaboration among our entire team — particularly our excellent engineers — and numerous project partners.”

Leatherman Terminal strengthens SC Ports’ big-ship capabilities and adds 700,000 TEUs of throughput capacity. Its equipment, technology and design provide reliable, efficient service to customers.

The 1,400-foot berth can handle a 20,000-TEU vessel. Five electric ship-to-shore cranes with 169 feet of lift height and 228 feet of outreach stand on the wharf.

The 25 hybrid rubber-tired gantry cranes and eight empty container handlers efficiently move cargo boxes around the terminal. The rubber-tired gantry cranes are designed to reduce emissions and energy consumption. A six-acre refrigerated cargo area includes six-story tall, refrigerated container racks, enabling SC Ports to handle more refrigerated and frozen goods.

At full buildout, the $2 billion Leatherman Terminal will have three berths and 286 acres, adding 2.4 million TEUs and doubling current port capacity.

SC Ports’ Leatherman Terminal will have lasting positive impacts on the maritime community and state. It greatly enhances South Carolina’s supply chain and serves S.C. businesses, distribution centers, mega retailers and advanced manufacturers.

SC Ports is an economic engine for South Carolina, and Phase One of the Leatherman Terminal will attract more businesses and create additional jobs for South Carolinians for generations to come.

Quotes from SC Ports team:

“This has been a great collaborative job by our construction contractor partners, engineering consultants and the Port’s own Engineering team. The level of coordination exhibited by all the project partners was the best I’ve seen in my nearly 40-year career. With a majority of the construction contracts issued to South Carolina based firms, we like to say the terminal was ‘Built by South Carolinians for South Carolina.’ Congratulations to the entire team for an outstanding job of bringing the Phase One project to a successful completion, on time and on budget.” — Walter Lagarenne, SC Ports’ Senior Director of Engineering and Facilities

“The complexities of building a container terminal require great teamwork and persistence over many years. I have worked on this project from the start, from overseeing site preparation and site development of the former Navy Base, to managing the day-to-day construction of building a world-class container terminal. After 14 years of working on the site, it is deeply rewarding to see operations bustling at Leatherman Terminal.” — Butch Weber, SC Ports’ General Manager of Project Management and Construction

“Building Phase One of the Leatherman Terminal was a complex challenge that involved almost every discipline of engineering. The SC Ports team and our project partners made the decision to collaborate daily, resulting in creative, value-added designs for this critical project. It is an incredibly proud moment to see Phase One operational as we welcome cargo and ships to the country’s first container terminal to open in more than a decade.” — Lucy Terza, SC Ports’ Engineering Project Manager

“The Leatherman Terminal has five electric ship-to-shore cranes and 25 hybrid rubber-tired gantry cranes. Our team oversaw the selection, design and fabrication of cranes overseas and then coordinated the equipment arrivals on a very active construction site. Following months of testing, these state-of-the-art cranes are busy moving containers on and off mega container ships and around the container yard. It is incredibly rewarding to see these massive pieces of cargo-handling equipment in action, resulting from years of planning.” — Ed Stehmeyer, SC Ports’ General Manager, Projects and Design

About South Carolina Ports Authority

South Carolina Ports Authority, established by the state's General Assembly in 1942, owns and operates public seaport and intermodal facilities in Charleston, Dillon, Georgetown and Greer. As an economic development engine for the state, Port operations facilitate 225,000 statewide jobs and generate nearly $63.4 billion in annual economic activity. SC Ports is soon to be home to the deepest harbor on the U.S. East Coast at 52 feet. SC Ports is an industry leader in delivering speed-to-market, seamless processes and flexibility to ensure reliable operations, big ship handling, efficient market reach and environmental responsibility. Please visit www.scspa.com to learn more about SC Ports.

CHARLESTON, SC — JUNE 22, 2021 — South Carolina Ports readies for fiscal year 2022 with enhanced infrastructure and capacity to handle rising retail imports and cargo volumes.

SC Ports has continued to rebound well throughout fiscal year 2021, noting strength in containerized, vehicle and inland port business segments. SC Ports has seen record cargo volumes for the past three consecutive months.

Loaded imports were up 46.5% in May compared to May 2020, and up 21.6% from May 2019. Much of this growth stems from pandemic-related shifts in buying habits, with a bigger focus on retail products and home goods. SC Ports’ infrastructure investments have been crucial to handling the growth.

“While the pandemic has created incredible supply chain challenges globally amid unprecedented demand, SC Ports provides a great service and remains focused on finding solutions to meet our customers’ needs,” SC Ports President and CEO Jim Newsome said. “As we look to fiscal year 2022, we plan to continue investing in our port to provide more capacity and reliability for our customers as we grow above the market.”

SC Ports Authority’s Board of Directors unanimously adopted a financial plan for fiscal year 2022 during the June board meeting today.

The plan projects that SC Ports will handle 1.475 million pier containers in fiscal year 2022, which runs from July 1 through June 30, 2022. The plan also projects 252,500 vehicles moving through the port, as well as 160,000 rail moves at Inland Port Greer and 38,000 rail moves at Inland Port Dillon during the fiscal year.

SC Ports’ fiscal year 2022 operating plan includes $324.6 million in operating revenues, which is estimated to generate $100.6 million in operating cash flow.

SC Ports’ Board unanimously approved a $349.4 million capital spending plan for fiscal year 2022. The funding will support continued enhancement of SC Ports’ terminals, equipment and IT infrastructure.

Work includes further modernizing Wando Welch Terminal to handle the mega container ships calling on the Port of Charleston; continuing work on Leatherman Terminal; and expanding Inland Port Greer to increase rail and container capacity at the rail-served inland port in Upstate South Carolina.

SC Ports will also invest in a chassis pool to ensure motor carriers can quickly access quality chassis, increasing safety and efficiency.

SC Ports Board Chairman Bill Stern recognized SC Ports’ team, the broader maritime community, SC Ports’ board members and legislative partners for their dedication and foresight during a challenging year.

“The ability to keep freight moving would not be possible without a truly great team, as well as the support of our board members and many partners,” Stern said. “SC Ports’ fiscal year 2022 financial plan is a thoughtful approach to continue the successes and growth seen over the past year. We will continue investing in port infrastructure to handle the biggest ships and growing cargo volumes, ensuring SC Ports remains a top 10 U.S. container port.”

About South Carolina Ports Authority

South Carolina Ports Authority, established by the state's General Assembly in 1942, owns and operates public seaport and intermodal facilities in Charleston, Dillon, Georgetown and Greer. As an economic development engine for the state, Port operations facilitate 225,000 statewide jobs and generate nearly $63.4 billion in annual economic activity. SC Ports is soon to be home to the deepest harbor on the U.S. East Coast at 52 feet. SC Ports is an industry leader in delivering speed-to-market, seamless processes and flexibility to ensure reliable operations, big ship handling, efficient market reach and environmental responsibility. Please visit www.scspa.com to learn more about SC Ports.