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Charleston, SC - PortCharleston magazine, the S.C. State Ports Authority's bimonthly publication, was recently named the top port periodical in the Western Hemisphere.

The magazine received the American Association of Port Authorities' Award of Excellence, which was announced at the 93rd annual AAPA convention in Long Beach, Calif. in September.

PortCharleston received an average score of 46.3 out of 50. One judge said it sets the standard for other ports. PortCharleston is produced by the South Carolina State Ports Authority's sales and marketing department. It has an international circulation covering 7,000 copies port customers and transportation service providers.

The Ports Authority also won an AAPA Award of Merit for its ad campaign, "We've Got You Covered."

The South Carolina State Ports Authority, established in 1942, owns and operates public seaport facilities in Charleston, Georgetown and Port Royal, handling international commerce valued at $39 billion annually.

Charleston, SC - Based on a new service agreement between the Port of Charleston and BMW Manufacturing Co., shipping of BMWs through the port will increase, officials for BMW and the S.C. State Ports Authority announced today.

"BMW has been a tremendous force for economic development across South Carolina, " said Bernard S. Groseclose Jr., president and CEO of the S.C. State Ports Authority. "They and their suppliers impact every community in the state in a very positive way. BMW is a highly respected customer that the Port of Charleston is proud to serve. We look forward to many years of growth and success. "

Based on the success of the past 10-year relationship between BMW and the Port of Charleston, the decision was made to renegotiate another 10-year service agreement based on BMW's vehicle imports and exports.

BMW entered into the original agreement in 1995 as the company was establishing a presence with its manufacturing facility in upstate South Carolina. In 1995, the Port of Charleston imported only 65 units for BMW Manufacturing Co. in Spartanburg.

According to Carl Flesher, BMW Manufacturing's vice president of associate and corporate communications, environmental services, "Over the past 10 years, the Port of Charleston has continuously maintained professional service as our imports and exports have increased significantly to over 115,000 imported and exported vehicles in 2003. We expect to increase our annual import and export totals to more than 150,000 vehicles during the next 10 years. "

"BMW does business in more than 120 countries, and the Port of Charleston continues to be one of the most efficient and effective ports in the world. Based on our past relationship, we feel certain the Port of Charleston will be able to expand to support BMW as our market share grows," Flesher added.

During the last decade, BMW has exported Z3, Z4 and X5 vehicles produced in Spartanburg to overseas markets, as well as imported finished vehicles through the Port of Charleston to meet the growing market demand in its 11-state southern sales region. Imports will increase in the future as BMW Manufacturing Co. expands its support of U.S. sales by now importing vehicles destined for dealerships in 22 states.

In addition to the import and export of finished vehicles, BMW also imports parts, such as engines from BMW plants in Germany and Austria and transmissions produced in Central Europe, which are used in the Spartanburg manufacturing plant. Over the last 10 years, BMW's parts imports have increased over 100 percent, from approximately 70 containers per week in the late 1990s to more than 7,500 a year in 2003.

"The Port of Charleston's established presence and the state-of-the-art infrastructure played a major role in attracting BMW to South Carolina, and this new agreement reconfirms the importance of the port to BMW's success and growth, " Flesher said.

BMW Manufacturing Co. is a subsidiary of the BMW Group based in Munich, Germany. Its website address is www.bmwusfactory.com. In addition to the South Carolina manufacturing facility, BMW's North American subsidiaries include sales, marketing and financial services operations in the United States, Canada and throughout Latin America, and a design firm in California.

The South Carolina State Ports Authority operates public seaport facilities in Charleston, Georgetown and Port Royal, handling international commerce valued at $39 billion annually. The Port of Charleston is the nation's fourth largest container port. It is served by 40 ocean carriers that provide direct service between Charleston and 140 nations around the world.

Bunny S. Richardson
BMW Manufacturing Co.
864-989-5523
864-989-5527 (fax)
bunny.richardson@bmwmc.com

Byron Miller
S.C. State Ports Authority
843-577-8197
843-577-8127 (fax)
bmiller@scspa.com

Click link below to view the 2004 State-of-the-Port Address.

2004 State of the Port Address

Charleston, SC - Philip L. Lawrence and Allison Skipper have joined the South Carolina State Ports Authority.

Lawrence serves as legal counsel, bringing over 20 years of experience in admiralty and maritime law. He earned a bachelor's degree in history from The Citadel and a law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law. He previously served as special counsel with Young Clement Rivers LLP.

Skipper is public relations associate. She graduated from the University of South Carolina Honors College in May with a bachelor's degree in public relations. She previously held internship positions at Colonial Supplemental Insurance, the South Carolina Bar and the South Carolina Senate.

The South Carolina State Ports Authority, established in 1942, owns and operates public seaport facilities in Charleston, Georgetown and Port Royal, handling international commerce valued at $39 billion annually.

Charleston, SC - Stephen E. Connor has been appointed director of security, risk management and human resources at the South Carolina State Ports Authority. Since joining the Authority in 1981, he has worked in operations and finance and was previously manager of risk and claims.

Connor earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the College of Charleston in 1980. He currently serves as president of the Palmetto Chapter of the Risk and Insurance Management Society and is an active member of the Propeller Club of the Port of Charleston. Connor also serves on emergency planning and response committees at the federal, state and local levels.

The South Carolina State Ports Authority, established in 1942, owns and operates public seaport facilities in Charleston, Georgetown and Port Royal, handling international commerce valued at $39 billion annually.

Charleston, SC - The Propeller Club of the Port of Charleston has named Peter O. Lehman, director of planning and business development at the South Carolina State Ports Authority, its 2003-2004 Member of the Year.

This distinction was given to recognize Lehman's significant contributions to the club while serving two terms as its president. Through his leadership, the club expanded membership to record levels, successfully hosted an international convention and recruited national leaders of industry to lead professional development programs.

Prior to joining the Authority in 1997, Lehman served as executive director of the South Carolina World Trade Center in Charleston and was senior foreign-trade representative for the State of New Jersey's Department of Commerce. Lehman has also served as chairman of the American Association of Port Authorities' Planning and Research Committee.

The Propeller Club of the United States is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing all interests of the maritime community on a national and international basis and promoting the importance and necessity of all waterborne commerce.

The South Carolina State Ports Authority, established in 1942, owns and operates public seaport facilities in Charleston, Georgetown and Port Royal, handling international commerce valued at $39 billion annually.

Charleston, SC -- Tonight at 9 p.m. ET, The Discovery Channel will air a special on the massive, new bridge spanning the Port of Charleston's main shipping channel.

According to The Discovery Channel's web site, "Charleston, South Carolina, is the construction site of the longest cable-stay bridge in America. Its signature 500-foot, diamond-shaped towers and ribbon-thin, eight-lane road surface will ensure its place among the world's most stunning structures."

The new Ravenel Bridge will replace two older bridges, enhancing vessel access with higher and wider clearance. It will provide for 186 feet of vertical clearance and a wider channel.

The project is under budget and ahead of schedule, with completion expected by summer 2005. The Ports Authority is providing $45 million for construction and demolition of the existing structures.

The $635-million bridge project, combined with recently completed harbor deepening to -45 feet at mean low water, prepare Charleston for the larger container ships serving world trade.

More info on the program, including other air dates, can be found at http://dsc.discovery.com/schedule/episode.jsp?episode=6&cpi=24572&gid=0&channel=DSC.

Charleston, SC -- The Port of Charleston's container volume rose 17% in July, led by double-digit growth in both imports and exports.

Charleston's total container volume in July was 161,700 TEU (20-foot equivalent units), up from 138,800 TEU in July 2003 and just shy of the all-time monthly record set in May.

Loaded exports and imports each rose 20% from July 2003. Loaded imports also hit another one-month record, reaching 78,800 TEU. This surpassed the previous loaded import record that was set in May.

Through the first seven months of 2004, Charleston's total container volume is up 6% to 1.05 million TEU.

Charleston, SC - Volume through the Port of Charleston reached all-time record levels in fiscal year 2004 on the strength of rising productivity, growing imports and an improving export environment.

The Port of Charleston's total container volume topped 1.72 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) in the fiscal year that ended June 30, an increase of 3% from the previous year.

Loaded imports led the growth, rising 7% from fiscal 2003, driven by inbound shipments from Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Loaded container exports also rose, managing a slight 1% increase for the year while expanding 3% in the last six months of the year alone.

Ship and barge traffic at Charleston's public terminals also grew in FY04, rising 5% to 1,830 vessels. Channel work for the Charleston Harbor Deepening & Widening Project was completed earlier this year, providing -45 feet at mean low water in the inner channels and -47 feet in the entrance channel.

Charleston's breakbulk volume was even with the previous year at nearly 614,000 tons. Increases in BMW automobiles, construction equipment and farm machinery offset declining military shipments.

In addition, Charleston dedicated a new breakbulk facility late in the year. Veterans Terminal has four piers and approximately 100 acres of storage on the former Charleston Naval Complex. A contract with a global engineering firm will translate into additional business over the coming 12 to 18 months.

Due to closure of the Georgetown Steel mill, breakbulk volume in the Port of Georgetown declined 35% to 989,000 tons. But a new owner has purchased the mill and has already resumed production, a sign of rebounding port volume in Georgetown.

Meanwhile, breakbulk business in the Port of Port Royal increased 50% to nearly 196,000 tons. The Ports Authority is moving forward with the eventual closure and redevelopment of port property in Port Royal.

Greater efficiencies are providing for much of the growth. Charleston's port-wide crane production, which includes every vessel in every service for the entire year, rose slightly to 37.9 moves per crane per hour in fiscal 2004. By comparison, three of the world's largest port operators recently announced crane production figures between 27 and 32 moves per crane per hour.

In the common user gates and marshalling areas, the new Yard Management System (YMS) has yielded quicker turn times for motor carriers and improved land utilization. For example, monthly volume at North Charleston Terminal has increased more than 67% since YMS was deployed, yet turn times have been slashed nearly in half to less than 24 minutes, all with no increase in gate labor.

Nearly $1.5 billion in infrastructure and seaport projects are underway in the Port of Charleston to improve the flow of commerce at the Southeast's leading container facility:

(1) Harbor Deepening to -45' Complete
The Charleston Harbor Deepening & Widening Project is essentially complete. Channels leading to all container terminals are now -45 feet at mean low water, while the entrance channel has been deepened to -47 feet. The $150-million project will allow Charleston to handle the largest containerships calling the East Coast under any tidal condition. Currently, half of all containerships calling Charleston have design drafts greater than 40 feet.

(2) Two-Year, $128m Capital Plan
To improve utilization of existing terminals, Charleston has a two-year, $128-million capital plan. In April 2004, Charleston announced a $6 million purchase of four new Konecranes rubber-tired gantry cranes for stacking containers in the yard. This will bring the port's total number of Konecranes RTGs to 25. In addition, the port's new Yard Management System has been deployed to the North Charleston and Columbus Street terminals. YMS has allowed the port to handle a larger volume of cargo with the same staff, all while cutting turn times.

(3) Nation's Largest Cable-Stayed Bridge
Charleston is also home to construction of what will be the largest cable-stayed bridge in the America's. The $635-million bridge will cross the main shipping channel, replacing two older bridges and enhancing vessel access with higher and wider clearance. The project is under budget and ahead of schedule with completion expected in summer 2005. The Ports Authority is funding $45 million for construction and demolition of the existing structures.

(4) Port Expansion at Former Navy Base
By the end of 2005, Charleston expects to have permits for a new three-berth, 280-acre container terminal on the former Charleston Navy Complex. The project is supported by S.C. State Law and will boost port capacity by at least 30%. Following a previously contentious expansion effort, elected officials are now fully supporting the project on the former Navy Base.