South Carolina Ports Authority, ZPMC Officials Present Crane Model to Local Middle School

CHARLESTON, SC - March 8, 2018 - On the heels of last week's arrival of two neo-Panamax cranes, today officials from South Carolina Ports Authority and Chinese crane manufacturer Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. (ZPMC) presented a model of the new cranes to Laing Middle School.

"On behalf of ZPMC, it is an honor to present this crane model to the Laing Middle School students and administrators," said ZPMC President Huang Qingfeng. "We are proud to be the provider of SCPA's new cranes and support the positive impacts the Port brings to region."

Having submitted a winning entry last school year in the Port's 2016 "Name the Cranes Contest," sixth-grade student Jacob Blackburn attended the ceremony to accept the model on behalf of the school. Blackburn's "Cranebob Bluepants," along with Laing classmate Annabelle Horton's "Heavy Metal," were the Port's first neo-Panamax cranes, delivered in August 2016 to enable the Port to efficiently work large container ships.

"It's a privilege for the Port to engage with local schools to help students learn about Port operations," said Barbara Melvin, SCPA Senior Vice President of Operations and Terminals. "We're pleased to join ZPMC in the presentation of this gift to Laing and will continue to involve students and the community in the exciting changes underway at our terminals to prepare for big ships and accommodate Port growth."

The Port is hosting the ZPMC delegation for tours of the Wando Welch Terminal and the Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal, the Port's new container terminal under construction. ZPMC is the world's leading ship-to-shore container crane manufacturer and has supplied cranes for both of SCPA's existing container facilities, the Wando Welch and North Charleston terminals. The company will also manufacture all of the ship-to-shore cranes for the Leatherman Terminal, which will open in 2021.

About South Carolina Ports Authority
South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA), established by the state's General Assembly in 1942, owns and operates public seaport facilities in Charleston, Dillon, Georgetown and Greer. An economic development engine for the state, Port operations facilitate 187,200 statewide jobs and generate nearly $53 billion annual economic activity. Home to the Southeast's deepest port, SCPA is the industry leader in delivering speed-to-market, seamless processes and flexibility to ensure reliable operations, big ship handling, efficient market reach and environmental responsibility. For more information on SCPA, please visit www.scspa.com.

SC Ports Welcomes New Ship-to-Shore Cranes

CHARLESTON, SC - March 1, 2018 - Just a day prior to the South Carolina Ports Authority's celebration of the beginning of Charleston Harbor Deepening Project construction, the Port welcomed two new ship-to-shore cranes at the Wando Welch Terminal to further enhance the handling of neo-Panamax vessels.

"It is fitting to welcome the arrival of two new cranes as we begin construction on the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project," said Jim Newsome, SCPA president and CEO. "The cranes are an integral part of the Port's plans to modernize existing terminals in order to more efficiently handle big ships. Along with the Wando Terminal wharf strengthening project, bigger cranes enable the Port to continue to meet the needs of our customers and deliver the operational reliability and productivity we are known for in the U.S. port industry."

Produced by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. (ZPMC) in China, the new cranes can lift containers 155 feet above the dock. The Wando Welch Terminal received its first two neo-Panamax cranes in August 2016, and an additional crane is on order for delivery in August 2019.

Arrival of the cranes marks the final stage of a $48.4 million project to strengthen and upgrade the Wando Terminal wharf and infrastructure required for handling larger vessels. Upon commissioning of the new cranes in June, the Wando will return to a three-berth facility.

In addition to the new cranes, SCPA is raising four existing cranes from 115 feet lift height to 155 feet. By the fall of 2019, the Wando Terminal's fleet of 13 cranes will include 9 that are neo-Panamax in size.

SCPA currently handles 20 of 27 weekly calls of vessels too large to transit the Panama Canal prior to its expansion. Beginning in April, two weekly services will consist of vessels 13,000 TEU or more. Upon completion of harbor deepening project in 2020, Charleston will offer wide channels with depth of 52 feet in the Inner Harbor and 54 feet in the Entrance Channel.

About South Carolina Ports Authority
South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA), established by the state's General Assembly in 1942, owns and operates public seaport facilities in Charleston, Dillon, Georgetown and Greer. An economic development engine for the state, Port operations facilitate 187,200 statewide jobs and generate nearly $53 billion annual economic activity. Home to the Southeast's deepest port, SCPA is the industry leader in delivering speed-to-market, seamless processes and flexibility to ensure reliable operations, big ship handling, efficient market reach and environmental responsibility. For more information on SCPA, please visit www.scspa.com.

SC Ports Authority Posts January Container Growth

COLUMBIA, SC - February 22, 2018 - Today South Carolina Ports Authority reported nearly two percent container volume growth since the Port's fiscal year began last July.

SCPA handled 167,398 twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEU) in January. Fiscal year to date, the Port has moved 1.24 million TEUs, an increase of 1.8 percent over the same period last year.

"Strength in global container trade continues to drive increases in the Port's container volumes, and at the current pace SCPA is on track to achieve a combined 12 percent growth rate over two fiscal years," said SCPA president and CEO Jim Newsome. "We look forward to strong volumes this spring during what will be a very busy and important time for our port. Next week marks the arrival of two neo-Panamax cranes for the Wando Welch Terminal as well as the beginning of construction on the Charleston Harbor Deepening project, and in April, Inland Port Dillon will open for business."

As measured by the total number of boxes handled, SCPA moved 94,852 pier containers last month for a total of 700,671 containers fiscal year to date.
Inland Port Greer handled 9,180 rail moves in January. Fiscal year to date, the facility's volume is 4.15 percent higher than last year with 66,308 rail moves handled since July.

In non-containerized cargo, SCPA's Charleston breakbulk facilities handled 55,224 pier tons in January. Since the fiscal year began, SCPA has moved 409,046 tons of breakbulk cargo including 118,122 vehicles.

Container Terminal Capacity
The SCPA Board of Directors recognized an increase in the container capacity of the Port of Charleston's new and existing terminals following a review of opportunities to maximize capacity utilizing modern container handling techniques.

SCPA's existing container terminals, Wando Welch and North Charleston, and the addition of the three-phase Hugh K. Leatherman, Senior Terminal by 2032 will provide a total container capacity of approximately 5 million TEUs. The Port's previous capacity, including full build-out of the Leatherman Terminal, was estimated at 4.2 million TEUs.

"Over the last eight years, SCPA has grown steadily at a CAGR of 8 percent," Newsome said. "We believe the South Atlantic ports will continue grow above the U.S. port market in percentage terms and that the movement of freight will become more challenging due to issues being encountered by the trucking industry. The Port will play an important role in facilitating this growth through modernization of our facilities, along with significant improvements in the South Atlantic Chassis Pool and other key assets for the movement of freight."

The capacity increase will be achieved through enhancements to existing terminals, including the purchase of container handling equipment and modifications to overall layout, over approximately the next two years as well as the addition of the Leatherman Terminal.

"In addition to achieving further capacity at our Wando Welch and North Charleston terminals, we look forward to timely progression of the three phases of the Leatherman Terminal," Newsome said. "Consideration will also be given to expansion of gate hours to handle increasing volumes after full consultation with the local trucking community."

Board Action
In support of the planned optimization of existing terminal facilities, the Board approved $19 million for the purchase of two additional ship-to-shore (STS) cranes for the North Charleston Terminal. The Board previously approved the purchase of six STS cranes, including five cranes for the Leatherman Terminal and one for the Wando Terminal, in November 2017. The Wando Terminal received two neo-Panamax cranes with 155' lift height in August 2016 and will welcome the arrival of two additional cranes of the same height next week.

About South Carolina Ports Authority
South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA), established by the state's General Assembly in 1942, owns and operates public seaport facilities in Charleston, Dillon, Georgetown and Greer. An economic development engine for the state, Port operations facilitate 187,200 statewide jobs and generate nearly $53 billion annual economic activity. Home to the Southeast's deepest port, SCPA is the industry leader in delivering speed-to-market, seamless processes and flexibility to ensure reliable operations, big ship handling, efficient market reach and environmental responsibility. For more information on SCPA, please visit www.scspa.com.

SC Ports Authority Grows 9 Percent in 2017

CHARLESTON, SC - January 17, 2017 - Today South Carolina Ports Authority reported nine percent container volume growth in 2017 with a record-setting 2.2 million twenty-foot equivalent container units handled during the year.

In calendar year-end results presented to the SCPA Board, the Port's total container volume in 2017 surpassed the previous record of 2 million TEUs achieved in 2016. The Port moved 182,884 TEUs last month, an increase of 11.2 percent over December 2016 and the highest December in SCPA history.

"Global container trade growth was the strongest it has been since 2010, mirroring surprising strength in the global economy," said SCPA president and CEO Jim Newsome. "We expect to see continued strength, albeit slightly more modest, into 2018 with growth in the emerging market economies as a key factor in sustaining this positive outlook."

As measured by the total number of boxes handled, SCPA moved 103,756 pier containers in December and a total of 1.2 million pier containers in 2017.

Inland Port Greer handled 7,646 rail moves in December, pushing the facility's volumes to a new calendar year record of 124,817 total rail moves in 2017. Greer experienced 20.4 percent growth over its 2016 volume record of 103,639 rail moves.

In non-containerized cargo, SCPA's Charleston breakbulk facilities handled 75,316 pier tons in December and a total of 783,363 tons during the year. Nearly 235,000 finished vehicles moved across the dock of the Columbus Street Terminal in 2017.

In addition to record-breaking volumes, 2017 was a year marked by significant advancement of key SCPA projects. Construction of the Leatherman Terminal continued, representing major growth capacity for the Port's container business when Phase One opens in 2020. During the year, SCPA celebrated the groundbreaking of Inland Port Dillon, which will open in April, and a new headquarters building, scheduled to open in December. The Port also made strong progress on the final phase of the Wando Terminal Wharf Strengthening Project, which will be completed this spring in conjunction with the delivery of two new 155' ship-to-shore cranes.

The Charleston Harbor Deepening Project to 52 feet achieved several milestones in 2017, having been named one of six "new starts" and receiving $17.5 million in construction funding in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Fiscal Year 17 Work Plan. The USACE awarded the first two construction contracts of $47 million and $213 million to deepen the Entrance Channel in preparation for dredging to begin next month. With significant completion expected by the end of 2020, Charleston will offer a wide and deep harbor, enabling SCPA to handle the biggest ships calling the East Coast and support growth of commerce in the state and region well into the future.

About South Carolina Ports Authority
South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA), established by the state's General Assembly in 1942, owns and operates public seaport facilities in Charleston, Dillon, Georgetown and Greer. An economic development engine for the state, Port operations facilitate 187,200 statewide jobs and generate nearly $53 billion annual economic activity. Home to the Southeast's deepest port, SCPA is the industry leader in delivering speed-to-market, seamless processes and flexibility to ensure reliable operations, big ship handling, efficient market reach and environmental responsibility. For more information on SCPA, please visit www.scspa.com.

SC Ports Handles Container Volume Growth in November

CHARLESTON, SC - December 15, 2017 - South Carolina Ports Authority's 2018 fiscal year container volume through November grew 2.5 percent compared to last year, with 886,414 twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEUs) handled by the Port of Charleston since July.

The Port moved 163,592 TEUs during the month of November, with a balanced mix of import and export cargo.

As measured in pier container volume, or the total number of boxes handled, the Port moved 92,329 containers in November. Fiscal year to date, SCPA has handled 502,063 pier containers, an increase of 2.9 percent over the same period last year.

Inland Port Greer handled 7,308 rail moves in November. With 49,482 rail moves handled to date in FY18, the facility's growing volumes are 10.2 percent higher than last year.

In the non-containerized cargo segment, Charleston handled 60,386 breakbulk pier tons in November, including 18,202 finished vehicles.

"November volumes were moderate, as is seasonally typical for our port," said SCPA president and CEO Jim Newsome. "From a calendar year perspective, our TEU volume is 9 percent ahead of last year. I expect SCPA will complete 2017 with nearly double-digit growth of TEU volumes as well as Inland Port Greer rail moves, which is a strong accomplishment. We're concluding the year with significant progress achieved on the construction of our new headquarters as well as Inland Port Dillon, and look forward to the dredging of our harbor deepening project to begin in February."

About South Carolina Ports Authority
South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA), established by the state's General Assembly in 1942, owns and operates public seaport facilities in Charleston, Dillon, Georgetown and Greer. An economic development engine for the state, Port operations facilitate 187,200 statewide jobs and generate nearly $53 billion annual economic activity. Home to the Southeast's deepest port, SCPA is the industry leader in delivering speed-to-market, seamless processes and flexibility to ensure reliable operations, big ship handling, efficient market reach and environmental responsibility. For more information on SCPA, please visit www.scspa.com.

SC Ports Community Giving Program Awards $103,000 in FY18 Grants

CHARLESTON, SC - November 20, 2017 - Today the South Carolina Ports Authority announced $103,000 in grants to 56 charitable organizations through its annual Community Giving Program, which provides grant support in regions where SCPA operates in order to positively impact maritime commerce, economic development, environmental awareness and community outreach.

"As the Port continues to grow, so does our commitment to be a strong community partner and neighbor," said Jim Newsome, SCPA president and CEO. "Our mission extends beyond maritime commerce and economic development activities, and there is great pride in the Community Giving Program and the relationships formed with the recipients across the state."

The organizations selected to receive grant funds will support critical programs and initiatives in the communities where the Port operates. At $103,000, this year's giving cycle represents the most funding ever awarded by the Port. The program included grants of $5,000, $2,500 and $1,000.

Recipients of a $5,000 grant included Charleston Chamber Foundation, Charleston Waterkeeper, Chucktown Squash Scholar, Friends of Keep Charleston Beautiful and Team Backpack Journalists.

Charleston Chamber Foundation supports the enrichment of the business environment in the Charleston area through talent, leadership, research and collaborative initiatives of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce. SCPA grant funds will provide support for 50 instructors from Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester Counties to participate in a three-day training course in Project Based Learning.

Charleston Waterkeeper, whose mission is to protect and restore Charleston's waterways for our community and for future generations, will use the grant funds to conduct five weeks of sample analysis as part of their Recreational Water Quality Testing Program.

Chucktown Squash Scholars is a year-round sports-based youth development organization that uses the sport of squash, in combination with academic tutoring, fitness education, civic engagement and mentoring to make a difference in the lives of Charleston's under-served youth population. SCPA grant funds will provide support and services for under-served students and families throughout the Charleston community.

Friends of Keep Charleston Beautiful, whose mission is to create a cleaner, more beautiful Charleston through awareness, education and community involvement, will use SCPA grant funds to support their Green Spaces Recycling Program. The program provides adequate recycling and trash containers in Charleston's public parks.

Team Backpack Journalists is an after-school STEAM-based (science, technology, engineering, art and math) program that provides students with real- world journalism experiences, including the process of writing, storytelling, and film making. The group will utilize the grant for the Cars & Ports project. Students will explore the process of manufacturing cars and how they are shipped through the port to customers around the world.

"Ones to Watch"

This year the Port chose three organizations as "Ones to Watch," a new funding category for programs demonstrating promising growth in areas across the state where the Port operates. Each group was awarded a $2,500 grant. This year's recipients included The City of Greer "Railfest," Beaufort- Jasper Academy for Career Excellence and Dillon County First Steps.

Fiscal Year 2018 Grant Recipients

American Red Cross

Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired - Charleston (ABVI)

Audubon South Carolina

Avian Conservation Center/Center for Birds of Prey

Be A Mentor

Beaufort-Jasper Academy for Career Excellence (ACE)

Charleston Area Senior Citizen's Services, Inc.

Charleston Chamber Foundation

Charleston Habitat for Humanity

Charleston Waterkeeper

Chucktown Squash Scholars

City of Greer "Railfest"

Communities In Schools

Communities In Schools of Greenville County, Inc.

Corpus Callosum

Dillon County Fire Department

Dillon County First Steps

Dillon County Free Medical Clinic

Earth Heart Growers (EHG)

East Cooper Community Outreach

East Cooper Meals on Wheels

Engaging Creative Minds (ECM)

Florence Crittenton Programs of SC

Friends of Coastal South Carolina

Friends of Keep Charleston Beautiful

Greer Relief & Resources Agency, Inc.

Habitat for Humanity of Berkeley County (HFHBC)

Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County

Harvest Hope Food Bank

Help 4 Kids Florence

I Heart Hungry Kids

Jasper County First Steps

Junior Achievement of Greater SC

Louie's Kids

Lowcountry Food Bank

LowCountry Habitat for Humanity

Lowcountry Maritime Society

Metanoia

Palmetto Project/BEGIN WITH BOOKS

Reach Out and Read Carolinas

Reading Partners South Carolina

Redux Contemporary Art Center

South Carolina Aquarium

South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Foundation

Team Backpack Journalists

The Charleston Museum

The Green Heart Project

The Walker Foundation at the SC School for the Deaf and the Blind

Tricounty Family Ministries

Trident Literacy Association

United Ministries

USS Yorktown Foundation

Water Mission

WINGS for Kids

Yo Art Inc.

YouthBASE

Fiscal Year 2017 Community Giving Impact

Community Giving grant recipients complete outcomes surveys at the end of the fiscal year before they can apply for the new giving cycle. The survey allows the Port to measure the positive lasting impacts of the grant program and fulfill its mission to be a strong community partner. In the previous giving cycle, $85,000 in grants was awarded to 49 charitable organizations. Impacts of the funding include:

  • Over 30,000 students across the state benefited from Community Giving grants
  • 17,183 people educated about environmental sustainability
  • Over 24,000 students participated in STEAM activities
  • 1,400 people received job skills training
  • 2,910 people received meals through hunger-relief programs

About South Carolina Ports Authority
South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA), established by the state's General Assembly in 1942, owns and operates public seaport facilities in Charleston, Dillon, Georgetown and Greer. An economic development engine for the state, Port operations facilitate 187,200 statewide jobs and generate nearly $53 billion annual economic activity. Home to the Southeast's deepest port, SCPA is the industry leader in delivering speed-to-market, seamless processes and flexibility to ensure reliable operations, big ship handling, efficient market reach and environmental responsibility. For more information on SCPA, please visit www.scspa.com.

SC Ports Achieves Record October Container Volumes

CHARLESTON, SC - November 7, 2017 - Today South Carolina Ports Authority reported its strongest October on record, with 184,804 twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEUs) handled last month.

Fiscal year-to-date TEU volume is up 5 percent, with 724,799 TEUs handled since the Port's fiscal year began in July.

"Container growth in October was broad-based across multiple segments, with particular strength of export loaded containers," said Jim Newsome, SCPA president and CEO. "All indicators are that the U.S. port market will continue to grow, based on good performance of the global economy. We look forward to the addition of container volume from major manufacturing operations such as Volvo Cars, Samsung Electronics and Mercedes Vans going into 2018."

As measured in pier containers, or boxes handled, SCPA moved a record 105,208 containers across the docks of its two container terminals in October, surpassing the previous October record of 102,413 pier containers in 2004. Fiscal year to date, pier container volume is up 5.7 percent with 410,856 boxes handled July through October.

Inland Port Greer also achieved its strongest October since the facility opened in November 2013, with 11,773 rail moves handled last month.

About South Carolina Ports Authority
South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA), established by the state's General Assembly in 1942, owns and operates public seaport facilities in Charleston, Dillon, Georgetown and Greer. An economic development engine for the state, Port operations facilitate 187,200 statewide jobs and generate nearly $53 billion annual economic activity. Home to the Southeast's deepest port, SCPA is the industry leader in delivering speed-to-market, seamless processes and flexibility to ensure reliable operations, big ship handling, efficient market reach and environmental responsibility. For more information on SCPA, please visit www.scspa.com.

SC Ports Announces Supply Chain Authority Service

CHARLESTON, SC - October 31, 2017 - Amid discussions of the world container shipping industry at today's South Carolina International Trade Conference, the South Carolina Ports Authority announced the Supply Chain Authority, an internal consulting service offering resources and expertise to assist SCPA customers in improving their supply chains.

"SCPA is already known for the customized service we offer shippers and cargo owners, who have extremely complex and constantly-changing global supply chains," said Jim Newsome, SCPA president and CEO. "Our announcement of the Supply Chain Authority today is the formalization of this process, which often occurs behind the scenes. We look forward to expanding the number of cargo customers who partner with our internal experts to bring clarity to various supply chain components. Our goal is to offer solutions and insight that ultimately give customers one less thing to worry about."

The Supply Chain Authority represents an internal team working across Port functions - operations and terminals, commercial and economic development, information technology - to provide a customer-centric process focused on understanding individual companies' unique logistics challenges.

"Our Port plays a key role in the supply chain by offering reliable, productive operations as well as flexibility to meet customer needs," said Barbara Melvin, SCPA Senior Vice President of Operations and Terminals. "Because of our unique position, we provide more than seamless operations - we share insight, market information and alternative possibilities that can improve an international supply chain. The Supply Chain Authority goes beyond what the Port can do for our customers to make the overall process of doing business easier."

The Supply Chain Authority can also work with partner organizations and agencies in the state and region that customers may find difficult to access on their own.

"The Supply Chain Authority is a new name, but this approach has benefited our customers for many years," said Paul McClintock, SCPA Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "Our team of experts is adept at working with customers individually to understand their business and identify real opportunities to improve reliability and efficiencies within the supply chain. Whether a company is considering South Carolina for a new or expanding operation, or just seeking incremental improvement of its logistical challenges, our team is a valuable resource."

To learn more about the Supply Chain Authority, visit www.scspa.com/supplychainauthority.

About South Carolina Ports Authority
South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA), established by the state's General Assembly in 1942, owns and operates public seaport facilities in Charleston, Georgetown and Greer, handling international commerce valued at more than $63 billion annually while receiving no direct taxpayer subsidy. An economic development engine for the state, Port operations facilitate 187,200 statewide jobs and generate nearly $53 billion annual economic activity. Home to the Southeast's deepest port, SCPA is the industry leader in delivering speed-to-market, seamless processes and flexibility to ensure reliable operations, big ship handling, efficient market reach and environmental responsibility. For more information on SCPA, please visit www.scspa.com.

Statement from SC Ports Authority CEO Jim Newsome

CHARLESTON, SC - October 30, 2017 - Today South Carolina Ports Authority president and CEO Jim Newsome issued the following statement on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announcing the second dredging contract award for Charleston Harbor Deepening Project:

"The awarding of the second construction contract for dredging the Charleston Harbor Entrance Channel to 54 feet is tremendous news for South Carolina. This multi-year contract, in conjunction with the contract awarded in September, provides for the construction work for the entrance channel to be completed without the potential for delays and is the largest contract ever to be awarded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Charleston District.

The timely progress of the Charleston Deepening Project would not have been achieved without strong partners in the USACE as well as elected officials on the federal, state and local levels. The decision by the S.C. General Assembly in 2012 to set aside $300 million for construction has been critically important through every milestone and helped Charleston move faster than any other Civil Works project to date. We will continue to work diligently to secure the remaining federal share of the project.

We look forward to seeing dredges in our harbor within the next few months and ultimately the completion of this effort that will make Charleston the deepest harbor on the East Coast at 52 feet. The investment in harbor deepening, as well as the Leatherman Terminal for additional container capacity and multiple other projects to improve our existing and Inland infrastructure, will pay dividends to South Carolina's economy for many years to come."

About South Carolina Ports Authority
South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA), established by the state's General Assembly in 1942, owns and operates public seaport facilities in Charleston, Georgetown and Greer, handling international commerce valued at more than $63 billion annually while receiving no direct taxpayer subsidy. An economic development engine for the state, Port operations facilitate 187,200 statewide jobs and generate nearly $53 billion annual economic activity. Home to the Southeast's deepest port, SCPA is the industry leader in delivering speed-to-market, seamless processes and flexibility to ensure reliable operations, big ship handling, efficient market reach and environmental responsibility. For more information on SCPA, please visit www.scspa.com.

SC Ports Board Approves $69.5 Million Crane Purchase

CHARLESTON, SC - October 30, 2017 - Today the South Carolina Ports Authority Board of Directors approved a $69.5 million contract for the purchase of six new ship-to-shore (STS) cranes to serve growing container volumes and big ships calling the Port of Charleston.

"As the largest crane purchase in our history, the contract approved today is an important part of our overall investment in infrastructure and capacity to ensure the Port is well-positioned for the future," said Jim Newsome, SCPA president and CEO. "When the cranes arrive in late 2019, deepening of the Charleston Harbor to 52 feet will be nearly two-thirds complete and construction of our new container terminal will also be nearly finished."

The cranes will be manufactured by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries, LTD (ZPMC). Five cranes offering 169 feet of lift height will be delivered to the Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal, the only permitted container terminal under construction on the U.S. East or Gulf coasts. Phase One of the terminal is scheduled to open in mid-2020 with an annual capacity of 628,000 twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEU).

In addition, one 155-foot crane will be delivered to the Wando Welch Terminal, SCPA's busiest container terminal. The Wando Terminal received its first two cranes of this size in August 2016, and ZPMC is currently manufacturing two additional cranes for delivery in February 2018. By 2020, 9 of the 13 STS cranes at the Wando Terminal will offer 155 feet of lift height to support SCPA's efficient handling of two 14,000 TEU vessels simultaneously.

"ZPMC is honored to supply this project for South Carolina Ports Authority," said ZPMC President Huang Qing-feng. "The six STS cranes are the single largest order from SCPA, and we are as excited as we are proud. This is a continued, long-term journey with great cooperation between SCPA and ZPMC, and we are committed to achieving a successful project. We appreciate the relationship we've built with SCPA and congratulate them on the Port's growth and continued prosperity."

Cargo Volumes

As previously announced, SCPA achieved 10 percent container growth in what was a record September, handling 179,856 TEUs during the month. From July through September, the first quarter of the SCPA's 2018 fiscal year, the Port handled 539,995 TEUs, a nearly 4 percent year-over-year increase.

SCPA handled 65,269 tons of breakbulk cargo across its docks in Charleston in September and 153,304 tons fiscal year to date.

Inland Port Greer handled 10,648 rail moves in last month for a fiscal year-to-date total of 30,401 moves, a 16 percent increase over the same period last year.

About South Carolina Ports Authority
South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA), established by the state's General Assembly in 1942, owns and operates public seaport facilities in Charleston, Georgetown and Greer, handling international commerce valued at more than $63 billion annually while receiving no direct taxpayer subsidy. An economic development engine for the state, Port operations facilitate 187,200 statewide jobs and generate nearly $53 billion annual economic activity. Home to the Southeast's deepest port, SCPA is the industry leader in delivering speed-to-market, seamless processes and flexibility to ensure reliable operations, big ship handling, efficient market reach and environmental responsibility. For more information on SCPA, please visit www.scspa.com.

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