CHARLESTON, SC - August 30, 2016 - Yesterday evening the South Carolina Ports Authority welcomed the APL Yangshan, the largest container ship ever to call the Port of Charleston.
"The deployment of New Panamax vessels to the East Coast trade marks a new era," said Jim Newsome, SCPA president and CEO. "Today 16 of Charleston's 26 weekly calls are handled by vessels 5,000 TEUs or larger, and we expect to handle our first 14,000 TEU vessel call later this year. As the deepest harbor in the Southeast, Charleston is well-prepared to provide the depth as well as the capacity and infrastructure necessary for efficiently handling big ships."
The Yangshan, which measures 1,140 feet long and 148 feet wide, can transport up to 10,700 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU). It is deployed on the China East Coast "CEC" weekly vessel service via the Suez Canal.
The Yangshan's milestone visit comes on the heels of the arrival of two new cranes last month, boosting big-ship handling capabilities at SCPA's Wando Welch Terminal. The cranes, which offer 155 feet of lift height from the dock, are expected to be operational by December 2016. By December of next year, two additional cranes of this height will be delivered to the Wando Terminal in conjunction with the completion of a $44 million project to modernize and strengthen the terminal wharf.
The Yangshan departed Charleston for a call in Norfolk before it transits to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Charleston will receive the next vessel of this size, the APL Barcelona, in early September.
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. In 2015 SCPA handled international commerce valued at more than $74 billion 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.