Archives: News Entries

The South Carolina State Ports Authority (SCSPA) has named Fred N. Stribling as Director of Marketing and Sales.

Stribling was previously with Maersk-Sealand, where he held senior management positions in both sales and operations during his fifteen-year tenure. He will be responsible for the SCSPA's carrier and cargo sales, pricing and marketing functions. Stribling will report to George W. Young, vice president, marketing and sales.

Stribling is an honor graduate from the University of Tampa and has been engaged as both an active duty and reserve officer with the U.S. Army. He presently holds the rank of lieutenant colonel
in the Reserves.

The South Carolina State Ports Authority operates public seaport facilities in Charleston, Georgetown and Port Royal. Charleston currently ranks as the nation's fourth largest container port. Last year cargo valued at $33 billion moved through the Charleston Customs district.

For nearly four decades Jimmy Moore of Georgetown worked to bring better jobs and economic opportunities to South Carolina - today his efforts were recognized in a ceremony dedicating the Port of Georgetown to him.

"With all of his skills, he used the God-given asset of Winyah Bay to attract jobs for the people of Georgetown," said Edgar A. Buck, chairman of the South Carolina State Ports Authority. "To me he is a wise leader, a mover of projects, a savvy businessman and a gifted reader of the political tea leaves."

Jack Scoville, a Georgetown attorney and currently the South Carolina State Ports Authority's Board secretary, suggested the honor for Mr. Moore as a way of paying tribute to a force for good in Georgetown and across South Carolina. "Jimmy's contributions certainly deserve notice," said Scoville.

In 1961, Mr. Moore accepted an invitation from then governor Fritz Hollings to serve on the State Ports Authority's Board and resigned his post with the State Development Board. Over the next 35 years he would serve as treasurer, vice chairman and chairman.

In a letter to Mr. Moore, Senator Hollings said, "I'm not surprised that the port is being dedicated in his honor. Quite frankly, I'd be surprised if it wasn't. Thousands of Georgetown County residents have him to thank for reliable, good-paying jobs."

Mr. Moore started his legal career in the law office of Herbert Smith, the first Georgetown resident to be named to the Ports Authority Board. The two shared their desire to bring prosperity to Georgetown through the Port.

Over the years, Mr. Moore worked to build port business in Georgetown, through employers such as Georgetown Steel, Hess Oil, International Paper, Akzo Salt and Holnam Cement. He also successfully worked toward $3 million in capital improvements to the Port of Georgetown in the mid-1980s. Since 1989, port business in Georgetown has doubled.

In 2000, 114 ships docked in Georgetown during the year, carrying more than 1.79 million tons of forest products, salt, cement and steel for local industries. This was an increase of more than 18% compared to the previous year, when the port moved 1.52 million?tons. For the year, ship traffic was up 8% from 106 in the previous year, while barge traffic slipped 8% to 260 barges.

In August the Ports Authority Board passed a resolution noting Mr. Moore's dedication to both the state and to the Georgetown port.

Charleston, SC -- South Carolina's seaports handled goods valued at nearly $33 billion in 2000, marking an all-time record and an increase of 10% over the previous year, according to recently
released federal trade data. This translates into $89 million in cargo everyday.

The Charleston Custom District ranked 6th nationwide in the value of waterborne commerce, the U.S. Census Bureau's Trade Data Branch report FT920 noted. Port districts ahead of Charleston
were Los Angeles/Long Beach, New York/New Jersey, Houston/Galveston, Seattle/Tacoma and New Orleans.

Export growth outpaced imports last year for the Charleston district, increasing 11%. Nationwide, the value of waterborne trade increased 17% in 2000.

Since 1994, the value of goods moving by sea through the Charleston district has nearly doubled, increasing 91% from $17 billion to $33 billion. This is the fastest rate of growth among the
nation's top 10 ports and more than double the national growth rate.

The Ports Authority's Board requested the study after concerns? over traffic were raised during the permitting process for terminal construction on Daniel Island. "We heard loud and clear the community's concerns about traffic," said Edgar A. Buck, SCSPA Board Chairman. "So we looked closely at long-range traffic projections for both the community and for the port."

The study evaluated 15 sections of the Charleston area's two primary arteries, interstates 26 and 526. First, it presented expectations of the community's long-term traffic growth without port expansion. The local CHATS model provided this view, called "Background Traffic." New port traffic from a terminal on Daniel Island was manually applied on top of these traffic counts.

The study shows that growth in other areas of the community, including residential, recreational and commercial traffic, would drive most of the road requirements over the next two decades. While Port expansion on Daniel Island would advance the need for improvements to a 5-mile segment of I-526, the growth in Port traffic is not out of line with the overall growth expected for other areas of our community.

Virtually all of the port's impact on traffic would be centered on a section of Interstate 526 between the proposed terminal site and I-26. "Because the impact is rather limited, our attention can be focused and targeted on this area," said Bernard S. Groseclose Jr., President & CEO of the SCSPA.

"Although port traffic would only be a small piece of the infrastructure challenges facing our community, it is vital that we address them," said Groseclose. "Congestion is as much of a concern to the Port as it is to the community. It is important that commerce and the motoring public continue to move freely, keeping our economy healthy and our quality of life high."

The SCSPA said Wednesday that it will take a leadership role in an infrastructure planning effort to seek Federal funds.

"Because of the role the Port plays in the state and national economy, we can be very helpful in these efforts," said? Groseclose. "In hosting one of the nation's busiest commercial seaports, Charleston certainly deserves, and can win, preferential consideration. The Federal government recognizes a port's role, and therefore affords favorable treatment to intermodal connections
in major seaports."

Non-port traffic will drive a number of road improvements even before port expansion would come on line. Ten of the 15 road segments need improvement in advance of opening a new terminal;
one will even require two improvements.

Port expansion on Daniel Island will not create any new road construction needs, but will advance the need for improvements to one segment of I-526. The 5-mile section between Clements Ferry Road and I-26 would have to be improved three years sooner with port expansion than without.

"Although today is the last day of the Global Gateway Terminal proposal, it is day one for the compromise proposal," said Edgar A. Buck, SCSPA Board chairman. "We have heard the concerns of the community and have shown our willingness to seek common ground. The Ports Authority will aggressively pursue this new plan that addresses community concerns while allowing our port to grow."

The SCSPA Board unanimously approved a resolution saying the Cooper River side of Daniel Island is the best location for future port expansion. The resolution also said that the existing permit application for the Global Gateway Terminal will be withdrawn, and a new plan will be developed based on response from the private sector.

Chairman Buck said that concerns over the size and scope of the original proposal would be addressed by the new project, which would be roughly one-half of the initial project. The original plan encompassed 800 acres of development on the SCSPA's 1,300-acre tract, land that is made up of former dredge disposal sites on Daniel Island.

"We are reaching a critical point in the port expansion process," said Bernard S. Groseclose Jr., president and CEO of the SCSPA. "It is vitally important that we move forward decisively on this compromise to realize new terminal capacity in advance of the 2006-2008 time frame when capacity is approached."

The SCSPA also approved management's recommendation to issue a formal request for proposals to private shipping line and terminal operating companies. While the SCSPA has had informal
discussions with marine terminal operators and ocean carriers, this is the first formal request for the terminal on Daniel Island.

The Ports Authority also today released the findings of a detailed traffic study relating to port expansion on Daniel Island. For more information on this study, please contact Byron Miller
at 843-577-8197.

The Port of Charleston is one of the nation's busiest commercial seaports for trade between the U.S. and Africa.

• Charleston is the nation's second largest port for containerized trade with Africa.
• Charleston moves nearly one-fifth of all trade between the U.S. and Africa.
• Since 1991, U.S.-Africa trade through the Port of Charleston has quadrupled, growing from 7,000 20-foot equivalent units in 1991 to more than 37,000 TEUs in 2000.
• The Port of Charleston is the dominant South Atlantic port for U.S. trade with West Africa and is the clear market leader.
• Over the past year, importers and exporters shipped more than 4,400 TEUs of goods through the Port of Charleston between the U.S. and West Africa.
• From Norfolk to Miami, 36% of all U.S. trade with West Africa moves through Charleston.
• Over the past year, the Port of Charleston handled nearly two-thirds of all the frozen meat, poultry and fowl that was exported in containers to West Africa through ports from Norfolk to Miami

The S.C. Department of Transportation (SCDOT) expects to accept a bid and sign a contract in May. Construction could begin this summer and be completed within four to five years.

The new bridge will feature eight traffic lanes, bicycle/pedestrian traffic accommodations, a 1,546-foot center span and a 186-foot vertical clearance. The new bridge will replace existing structures with a 150-foot vertical clearance.

Key to the announcement is the SCSPA's participation in repayment of a $215-million, federal TIFIA loan over the next 25 years. The Ports Authority will contribute $5 million annually, contingent on state legislative approval of $55 million in bond appropriations this year and an annual appropriation of $2.5 million. Other annual funds to repay the loan will come from SCDOT ($7 million) and local governments ($3 million).

"This plan, if approved by the General Assembly, allows the Ports Authority to contribute without breaking any legal restrictions governing our bonded indebtedness," said Bernard S. Groseclose Jr., President and CEO of the Ports Authority. "We hope that this will be a positive solution for the entire local community."

"As we move forward with Port expansion in Charleston harbor, it is critical to work toward accommodating infrastructure needs," said Groseclose. "The new bridge will serve both the traffic needs of our community and the shipping needs of South Carolina and our nation."

CONTAINER YARD IMPROVEMENTS - A 34-acre container storage area at Columbus Street Terminal will undergo $5.9 million in improvements over the coming nine months. The area will be raised and paved, preparing it for a grounded container operation utilizing rubber-tired gantry cranes. Today the State Ports Authority (SPA) Board approved the contract for Sanders Brothers Construction of North Charleston to perform the work. The primary carrier customer at Columbus Street is the alliance of Cosco, "K" Line and Yang Ming.

THREE TOPLIFTERS - Gregory Poole Equipment will provide three container handlers at a cost of $600,000 for use at the Wando Welch Terminal. In addition, six new rubber-tired gantry cranes recently were added to the Wando fleet. The four new Paceco/Hyundai super post-panamax container cranes have been delivered to the Wando and are operational.

MAINTENANCE DREDGING - The SPA Board today also approved a $366,400 contract for Marinex Construction of Johns Island to perform maintenance dredging in berths one and two at Columbus Street Terminal. Approximately 100,000 cubic yards of material will be removed and deposited on Drum Island to maintain the project depth of 45 feet at mean low water.

PORT EXPANSION - The SPA Board continued its review of port expansion alternatives today with a review of environmental, traffic and social impacts of the three options. The Cooper River side of Daniel Island would have the least impact on wetlands and river bottom, while the Navy Base would have a greater near-term impact on water quality. All three sites require improvements to local roadways. In addition, the existing Draft EIS will have to be substantially modified or amended, and a new scoping process public hearing will be held.

MAERSK-SEALAND CONTRACT - The Ports Authority announced today that it has received verbal commitment to a new contract with Maersk-Sealand to continue using the Port of Charleston. Very soon the SPA expects to sign the contract, which features an initial four-year term with four five-year extensions. Maersk-Sealand is the world's largest ocean carrier, serving more than 100 countries from the Port of Charleston.

HANJIN MAKES IT 10 FOR 10 - Each of the 10 largest shipping lines in the world now offer service between Charleston and the earth's four corners. The world's fourth largest shipping line, South Korea's Hanjin Shipping, recently said it would begin offering service between Charleston and North Europe early next year. Beginning perhaps in February, Hanjin will buy space on ships in an existing service operated by Cosco, Yang Ming, and "K" Line. Charleston is the first port visited inbound from Le Havre, France and the last port ships call before returning across the Atlantic Ocean to Antwerp, Belgium.

Charleston, SC - November 21, 2000 - Standing proud as the nation's fourth busiest container port, the South Carolina State Ports Authority today offers an amazing contrast in both size and impact from the days of its creation. This success is the result of careful planning, hard work and effective marketing.

In 1941 the Legislature of South Carolina asked a committee to study the port needs of the state and report on whether the capability to meet that need existed in Charleston, then a city-sponsored port. The manufacturing base gave a resounding yes to the need for a port to move their goods to market.

The General Assembly formed the Ports Authority in 1942 with the major port at Charleston and sister ports at Georgetown and Port Royal. Existing terminals had to be torn down and rebuilt in concrete. An engineer observed that Charleston must indeed be the Holy City, since there was nothing supporting the docks -- worms had eaten the timbers through.

In the 1960s South Carolina business began to depend more and more on the port. In the early 1970s the State Ports Authority Board committed to containerization. Large shipping containers were a brand new mode of moving cargo that revolutionized international transportation, worldwide. Charleston had the first container facilities in the South and gradually assumed the lead container port position south of New York on the East Coast.

The ability of containers to rapidly move a high volume of cargo through relatively limited facilities poised Charleston for the rapid growth it has experienced in recent years. Everyday the Port of Charleston moves cargo valued at $79 million. In addition to containers, the port handles a growing amount of roll-on roll-off cargo such as cars and heavy machinery as well as the more traditional kinds of break bulk cargo including paper and forest products.

The success of the entire port system has been closely tied to the growth of industry in the state and the region. Many of the companies that have come to South Carolina, such as Michelin, BMW, Bosch and Fuji, have credited the efficient port at Charleston as one of the major attractions. The smaller but viable ports of Georgetown and Port Royal have also been a major advantage to the industries developing around them.

Every county in South Carolina has business that uses the State's ports and the Ports of South Carolina are working for every one of the state's citizens.

Charleston, SC - November , 2000 - Alternatives to serve the Port of Charleston's expansion needs were evaluated at a Ports Authority Board meeting today, and updated forecasts show that a new terminal is required within six to eight years.

The initial proposal to meet shipping demand by consumers and industry was the Global Gateway Terminal on Daniel Island in Charleston harbor. During a very open process, vocal opposition to the initial proposal by local neighborhoods and environmental activists focused primarily on quality of life issues, such as traffic, lights and noise, and the ultimate size of port development.

Acknowledging the local opposition, while also recognizing the dire need to move forward on port expansion, the Ports Authority Board stepped away from the initial proposal and requested an analysis of three options.

"We have been listening to the public and we have heard their concerns," said Board chairman Eddie Buck of Charleston. "This is reflected in the alternatives we reviewed today."

All three alternatives are less than half the size of the initial proposal. The sites to be considered are a portion of the Ports Authority's property on the Cooper River side of Daniel Island, a site
in Jasper County on the Savannah River, and a portion of the former Charleston Naval Base. Today the Ports Authority Board heard a detailed report of the technical, engineering, infrastructure and environmental issues relating to each site, along with timing and cost considerations. "Every site has its pluses and minuses," said Chairman Buck, "it's just a matter of determining a sound business alternative that best serves the port's needs, while minimizing impacts on the community. It is this solution that best serves South Carolina."

An updated analysis of world trade shows that new port capacity could be required as soon as 2006. Although the Ports Authority has surpassed growth expectations every year since the last time its forecasts were updated, vastly increased productivity and the updated forecast allows the six to eight year window to remain constant.

The forecast rate of growth shows increased competition from developing economies, such as Southeast Asia and Latin America, a comparatively stronger U.S. dollar and a continuing decline in the manufacturing sector's share of the overall U.S. economy.

"To satisfy the demand projected in this forecast, preparations must begin immediately for new terminal development. It's understood that we must move forward with plans to expand our state's primary port in Charleston. It is no longer a question of 'if' or even 'when,' but where'" said Buck.