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Charleston, SC - The South Carolina State Ports Authority (SCSPA) Board of Directors today advanced the development of a 280-acre container terminal at the former Navy Base by awarding a $55-million construction project to a local firm. The project is estimated to support almost 720 local jobs and provide a $78.4-million impact to the Charleston metro region.

In February, the SCSPA released a request for bids for the construction of a 5,000-foot-long containment structure built out approximately 850 feet from the existing shoreline toward the main shipping channel. The winning bid of $55 million is a joint venture of Cape Romain Contractors of Wando, SC along with Massachusetts-based Cashman, which was the lead contractor on the demolition of the former Cooper River bridges.

The containment wall project will support an estimated 720 jobs and create a $78.4 million economic impact in the Charleston region during the 15 months it will take to complete, according to a report by the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce's Center for Business Research. Approximately 430 of these jobs will be in the construction sector. Additionally, the project will pump $27.7 million in personal income into the region.

"We're moving ahead with creating new port capacity while creating tremendous local impact and jobs in the community," said David J. Posek, SCSPA chairman. "The construction of the containment wall is critical to keep the opening of the terminal on schedule for 2014, coinciding with the opening of the expanded Panama Canal."

Beginning this summer, crews will dredge approximately 880,000 cubic yards of material, install the steel pipe and sheet pile wall and construct a rock berm of approximately 290,000 cubic yards of rock.

The containment structure will be built in preparation for the placement of fill material in the tideland area of the new, 280-acre container terminal. The facility, at build out, will boost the Port of Charleston's capacity by 50 percent, or 1.4 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEU).

The South Carolina State Ports Authority, established by the state's General Assembly in 1942, owns and operates public seaport facilities in Charleston and Georgetown, handling international commerce valued at more than $62 billion annually and receiving no direct taxpayer subsidy. An economic development engine for the state, port operations facilitate 260,800 jobs across South Carolina and nearly $45 billion in economic activity each year. For more information, visit www.scspa.com.

Charleston, SC - The South Carolina State Ports Authority (SCSPA) has selected Paul McClintock to serve in the newly created position of Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), effective May 4.

As Senior Vice President and CCO, McClintock reports to the President & CEO and is in charge of all business development functions for the SCSPA. His areas of responsibility include all sales and marketing efforts for Charleston and Georgetown, as well as real estate and cruise development functions.

"Paul brings to the Ports of Charleston and Georgetown an increased focus on developing our existing customers' business, while also bringing new cargo opportunities to South Carolina's ports," said John F. Hassell III, Interim President & CEO of the SCSPA.

McClintock has more than 26 years of experience in maritime, logistics, sales and operations management experience. He previously served as Vice President North America Sales for MOL (America) Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL), one of the world's largest multi-modal shipping companies. In this position, he was responsible for planning and leading all North American sales activities, including a staff of more than 100 personnel. McClintock earned a bachelor's degree in marketing from the University of Scranton.

"Paul has extensive global shipping experience and a demonstrated track record of exceptional performance throughout his career," said Hassell. "He will significantly enhance our efforts to bring more cargo to the docks in Charleston and Georgetown, increase market share and encourage economic development."

"South Carolina's port system is recognized around the world for its productivity and capabilities and it has tremendous potential," said McClintock. "I look forward to working collaboratively with our customers and the maritime community to develop new cargo opportunities as we expand to better serve our customers."

The South Carolina State Ports Authority, established by the state's General Assembly in 1942, owns and operates public seaport facilities in Charleston and Georgetown, handling international commerce valued at more than $62 billion annually and receiving no direct taxpayer subsidy. An economic development engine for the state, port operations facilitate 260,800 jobs across South Carolina and nearly $45 billion in economic activity each year. For more information, visit www.scspa.com.

Hardeeville, SC - The bi-state board overseeing the Jasper Ocean Terminal today voted to support a new interchange off Interstate 95 in South Carolina to serve the future port facility.

The Jasper Ocean Terminal Joint Project Office (JPO) Board of Directors, which consists of officials from Georgia and South Carolina, met at the Hardeeville City Hall, its first official meeting in Jasper County where the Jasper Terminal site is located. The Board voted to support the $121.6-million project, which includes the new interchange at I-95 and other area road improvements. Jasper County and the City of Hardeeville are sponsoring the proposal, which seeks funding from the South Carolina State Infrastructure Bank.

"The Joint Project Office is working diligently to lay the foundation for development and construction of the Jasper Ocean Terminal," said JPO Chairman William L. Bethea Jr. of Hilton Head. "The Exit 3 project could help us begin to address the inland transportation challenges."

Other transportation planning work is also underway. Last fall, the JPO hired the engineering firm of Moffatt & Nichol to assist with work on the project, such as the on-going infrastructure planning. The results of traffic modeling will help determine highway network impacts, likely pointing to other required infrastructure development.

The JPO took the action at its board meeting following a presentation by Ted Felder, economic development director for the City of Hardeeville. The JPO will formally convey its support of the Exit 3 project in a letter from Mr. Bethea to Hardeeville Mayor Bronco Bostick.

In addition to the interchange, the proposal calls for expansion of Purrysburg Road from two to four lanes from I-95 southbound to U.S. 17, an east-west connector roadway from Purrysburg Road to U.S. 321 and intersection improvements at U.S. 321 and 17 and U.S. 170 and 17.

According to the presentation, the exit could create nearly 4,000 construction jobs within five years and open up hundreds of acres of prime property that could house distribution and warehousing operations as well as residential and commercial developments. Estimated job creation from the roadway and associated real estate developments over a 30-year period exceeds 28,000 jobs.

The town has applied for more than $68 million from the State Infrastructure Bank. When added to a 44 percent local match of $53 million, a total of $121.6 million in funds would be dedicated to the project.

A new liner service operating between Charleston and several ports in the Middle East and India commences this month, representing new business and a new carrier for the Port of Charleston.

National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (NSCSA) will make the inaugural call of its North America service at Charleston's Columbus Street Terminal the week of March 30. The deployment will be a liner service handling a combination of traditional breakbulk, roll-on/roll-off and containerized cargo. The frequency is every 21 days.

The North America service connects Charleston to the ports of Jeddah, Jubail and Dammam in Saudi Arabia; Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates; Mumbai, India; Port Qasim, Pakistan and Livorno, Italy. Carolina Shipping will serve as the local agent for NSCSA.

Ray Jozwiak, NSCSA market analyst, said the carrier is looking forward to adding Charleston.

"There are some large breakbulk cargo shippers in the Port of Charleston's marketplace that make it the logical port of call," Jozwiak said. "On the inbound side, Charleston is a strong gateway for India goods, particularly textile imports. So this will initially be driven by breakbulk outbound and containers inbound and we will work quickly to add more freight."

Jozwiak added that NSCSA is committed to 'novel and vigorous solutions' for customers to help them find creative and efficient means of conducting business in these challenging times.

"We are broadening our reach in an effort to provide those solutions," he said. "Charleston is a strong addition to the rotation."

"This is great news for South Carolina Ports and the maritime community," said David J. Posek, chairman of the South Carolina State Ports Authority (SCSPA). "This is a new service which brings vessel calls and freight to the Port of Charleston and will have a positive impact on the businesses that rely on the port's operations."

John F. Hassell III, interim president and CEO of the SCSPA, praised the collaborative effort of both the public and private sector in winning the business. Involved in bringing the carrier to Charleston were Carolina Shipping, Dockside Logistics, Charleston Heavy Lift, SSA Cooper, South Carolina Public Railways, both class 1 railroads, several local truckers and others.

"This was truly a team effort from many on the local waterfront," Hassell said. "We look forward to welcoming another carrier to our port and growing this business."

Charleston, SC - A new collaborative program in the Port of Charleston will reduce truck emissions and improve air quality, while saving companies big bucks on their fuel bill.

Under the public-private project, trucks serving the Port of Charleston will be retrofitted with emissions-reducing and fuel-saving technologies.

Funded in part by an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant received by the South Carolina State Ports Authority (SCSPA), truck owners that serve the Port of Charleston may apply for a rebate to help cover part of the cost for technologies such as auxiliary power units, or smaller generators that reduce truck idling.

"This project is a win-win for the environment and for trucks operating out of the Port of Charleston," said Stan Nutt of G&P Trucking and president of the Charleston Motor Carriers Association (CMCA).

The SCSPA's partners include the Charleston Motor Carriers Association, South Carolina Trucking Association, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control and the American Lung Association.

"Through this collaborative grant program, it's much more affordable and accessible for truckers to upgrade their equipment," said John F. Hassell III, interim president & CEO of the South Carolina State Ports Authority. "These technologies not only improve fuel use and cut costs of running the trucks, but they also reduce air emissions, providing a broader environmental benefit to the entire community."

Truck owners may apply for rebates in two areas: idle-reduction projects and retrofit projects.

Idle-reduction projects incorporate auxiliary power units (APUs) and other similar devices such as battery air conditioning systems, thermal storage systems and fuel-operated heaters. According to EPA estimations, an average truck with an APU or similar device uses 8 percent less fuel each year. Truck owners will be eligible to recoup half of the cost to upgrade this equipment.

Owners also may choose to retrofit their trucks with EPA Smart Way approved technologies, such as single-wide tires and aerodynamic kits. Single-wide tires generate an estimated 4 percent fuel savings and aerodynamic kits provide a 5 percent reduction. These projects are eligible for a 75 percent cost rebate to the truck owner.

Applications are available online at www.pledgeforgrowth.com and will be accepted until Monday, March 30, 2009. Selected truck owners will be notified in May with projects completed by the end of November.

The new truck project is one component of a broader $1.7-million grant the SCSPA received from the EPA to reduce port-related air emissions as part of the port's 'Pledge for Growth' environmental initiative.

The other portion of the EPA program involves replacing Tier 0 engines with certified Tier 3 engines on 21 rubber tire gantry cranes that handle shipping containers at the SCSPA's three container terminals. Among other emissions reductions, the new engines will reduce Nox by more than 40 tons per year, or 57 percent, and particulate matter (PM) by 1.27 tons per year, or nearly 40 percent. The repowers also will improve fuel efficiency by 16 percent, or reduce fuel use by about 33,250 gallons per year. The repower project is expected to be completed by November 2010.

The South Carolina State Ports Authority, established by the state's General Assembly in 1942, owns and operates public seaport facilities in Charleston and Georgetown, handling international commerce valued at more than $62 billion annually. Seaport operations facilitate 260,800 jobs across South Carolina and nearly $45 billion in economic activity each year. For more information, visit www.scspa.com.

Charleston, SC - A major new construction project for the South Carolina State Ports Authority's (SCSPA) new facility at the former Navy Base in the Port of Charleston is now out for public bid.

The SCSPA is seeking bids for the construction of a 5,000-foot-long containment structure built out approximately 850 feet from the existing shoreline to the main shipping channel. Working from the waterside, crews will dredge approximately 880,000 cubic yards of material, install the steel pipe and sheet pile wall and construct a rock berm of approximately 290,000 cubic yards of rock. The containment structure will be built in preparation for the placement of fill material in the tideland area of the new, 280-acre container terminal.

The containment wall project is expected to cost approximately $60 million, but competitive bids are anticipated. Fourteen companies have placed their names on the pre-bid list. The project will be funded internally by the SCSPA without entering the credit market at this time.

"This signals to our customers that, while we're being mindful of the current state of trade, we are focused on the long term success of the Port of Charleston," said John F. Hassell III, interim president & CEO of the SCSPA. "With port expansion at the Navy Base, along with other capacity enhancements, Charleston will be able to handle growth for many years to come."

Construction of the containment wall is expected to begin in the summer of 2009 and take 15 months to complete. The project is an essential next step to ensure that the terminal's first phase stays on schedule for a 2014 completion, which also coincides with the opening of the new, larger locks at the Panama Canal.

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Navy Base terminal rendering

Savannah, Ga. - Members of the bi-state board leading the development of a deepwater port in Jasper County today unanimously elected William L. Bethea Jr. of Hilton Head, South Carolina, to chair the Jasper Ocean Terminal Joint Project Office (JPO).

The chairman serves a one-year term and alternates between the two states. James S. Balloun of Georgia served as JPO chairman in 2008 and was elected vice chairman at the meeting.

Mr. Bethea, a long-time supporter of the Jasper project and resident of Beaufort County, brings extensive port and economic development experience to the JPO Board. He also served for 12 years on the South Carolina State Ports Authority (SCSPA) Board, four years as chairman, and has served on the South Carolina Coordinating Council for Economic Development.

"This project is vitally important to the economic future of our region and the state of South Carolina," said Mr. Bethea. "While there's much work ahead, I'm encouraged by the strides made over the past year, including jointly purchasing the site and hiring a project management firm to keep the development moving ahead."

"In addition to building on the momentum already established, over the next year I hope to enhance communications with this project's many stakeholders locally and across both states," said Mr. Bethea.

In July, the Georgia Ports Authority and the SCSPA completed the joint acquisition of 1,518 acres of land from the Georgia Department of Transportation for the development of the Jasper Ocean Terminal on the Savannah River in Jasper County. In October, the JPO hired Moffatt & Nichol to provide program management services, including preliminary terminal planning, economic analyses, market studies, and dredged material management and conceptual infrastructure planning.

"I've been honored to serve as chairman of the project office over the past year," said Mr. Balloun. "We've made significant progress and will continue to work collaboratively to ultimately create jobs and foster new economic opportunities for the region."

In January 2008, the SCSPA and the GPA signed an Intergovernmental Agreement for Development of a Jasper port to contract for, jointly own, manage and plan for the development of the Jasper Ocean Terminal.

Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue and South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford announced in March 2007 a proposal for a port in Jasper County that would be developed, owned and operated jointly by the two states. Their original term sheet established the JPO.

Next steps for the Jasper Ocean Terminal project include conducting studies required to release the Corps easement, initiating the NEPA permitting process, continuing economic analyses and market studies and planning road and rail infrastructure to the site.

Bill H. Stern, a Columbia businessman and the vice chairman of the SCSPA, will head the search committee, which represents a cross-section of business, transportation, logistics and economic development.

"They are true leaders with a strong history of business accomplishments and public service," said Stern, who reached out for input on the search process. "We are honored and humbled that they have agreed to serve for this important task."

In addition to Mr. Stern, the search committee members include:

Over the coming months, the committee will work to guide the search process, identifying and recruiting potential candidates and considering a search firm to assist with the effort. The group is expected to recommend a candidate or candidates for final consideration by the SCSPA Board.

"With the strength and expertise assembled around us on the search committee, I'm confident we'll find a candidate that meets the state's needs and will lead our vital port system," said Stern.

"We will be looking for a leader that exhibits customer focus, vision, a demonstrated track record of performance, and strong team building and communication abilities," said David J. Posek, chairman of the SCSPA Board. "While we're at an early stage, we have an exceptional committee and expect considerable interest in the position," said Posek.

The South Carolina State Ports Authority, established by the state's General Assembly in 1942, owns and operates public seaport facilities in Charleston and Georgetown, handling international commerce valued at more than $60 billion annually. Seaport operations facilitate 260,800 jobs across South Carolina and nearly $45 billion in economic activity each year. For more information, visit www.scspa.com.

Charleston, SC - The South Carolina State Ports Authority (SPA) honors the memory of long-time executive director W. Don Welch, who passed away earlier today at his home in Florida.

"Don Welch's many contributions to the State Ports Authority and economic development in this state are apparent now and will be felt for many years to come," said John F. Hassell III, interim president and CEO and board secretary of the SPA. "We in the port industry mourn the loss of a dedicated leader, consummate professional and friend. The entire Charleston maritime community extends our thoughts and prayers to his family during this time."

Mr. Welch, 78, served as executive director of the SPA from 1971 until 1996. During that time, the port went from a labor-intensive environment to a largely automated operation, thanks to the containerization movement. Mr. Welch predicted in 1971, 'Anything that can be containerized will be,' and he steered the Port of Charleston to successfully prepare for it.

As executive director, Mr. Welch guided the development of the Wando Terminal from the land purchase in 1972, to the terminal's opening in 1981, and its near completion in 1997. In 1994, the Wando Terminal was renamed the Wando Welch Terminal. He also led the major overhaul of the SPA's other facilities to provide open storage for containers.

A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Mr. Welch obtained his B.A. degree in economics from the University of Florida in 1951 and his M.S. in transportation from the University of Tennessee in l956. During the Korean War, he served as an artillery officer in the U.S. Army.

Mr. Welch received a number of honors including World Trade "Man of the Year" by the Propeller Club of Charleston; the "Distinguished Service Award" granted by the Southern Growth Policies Board; and, was named the University of Tennessee's "Distinguished Alumnus" for 1981. In April of 1991 Mr. Welch was presented transportation industry's most prestigious award, the Harry E. Salzberg Memorial Medallion by the School of Management at Syracuse University. Welch served as the 1981 chairman of the American Association of Port Authorities.

In 1990, the College of Charleston established the W. Don Welch Medallion to be awarded in Welch's honor for "meritorious contributions in the transportation industry."

Bernard S. Groseclose Jr., president and chief executive officer of the South Carolina State Ports Authority (SCSPA), today offered his resignation.

David J. Posek, SCSPA board chairman, announced that longtime board member John F. Hassell III will serve as interim president and CEO as the board conducts a national search for a permanent replacement. Hassell will assume his duties immediately.

"The people of South Carolina owe Bernie Groseclose a debt of gratitude for his service to one of our state's most important economic development engines," said Posek. "During his tenure, the port system became one of the most effective and efficient ports authorities in the world. He has led the Authority through some very turbulent times over the years and the board wishes him the best. I am sure he will succeed in his future endeavors."

Posek said Hassell's appointment ensures a seamless transition. "John has tremendous respect in the maritime industry, as well as the business and political communities, and he knows the agency from the inside out, having served on the staff for a number of years," Posek said. "We are very fortunate that he agreed to serve the state in this interim capacity."

Hassell, president of the Maritime Association of South Carolina for 15 years, has served on the SCSPA board since 2001, and was employed at the SCSPA from 1980-1986. Effective immediately, he will take a leave of absence from the Maritime Association.

Groseclose joined the SCSPA in 1985 as manager of business analysis and later served as director of planning and development. The SCSPA board unanimously selected him as president and CEO in mid-1996.

"I am proud of what we have done collectively to create jobs and economic prosperity in South Carolina, and am grateful to the many men and women at the Ports Authority who work so hard to maintain our international reputation," Groseclose said. "It has been an honor to work with them and serve the people of South Carolina."

Posek announced that he has appointed the vice chairman of the SCSPA board, Bill H. Stern, chairman of the search committee for a permanent replacement. Stern said other committee members will be named at a later time.

"While the search committee will lead the effort, it is the board's desire to be as open and transparent as possible, and to seek input from the port's many constituencies at the local and state levels," Stern said.