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98 Mayors Endorse Charleston Harbor Deepening

Charleston, SC - Nearly 100 mayors representing cities and towns across South Carolina are urging President Obama to fund the next step in Charleston's post-45 foot harbor deepening project. The letter notes the port's tremendous contribution to jobs across the region, and underlines the value of Charleston deepening to U.S. taxpayers.

In the letter the mayors ask President Obama to include funding in the Administration's budget for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to continue with the Charleston project.

A study completed earlier this year by the Corps determined a federal interest in the next Charleston Harbor deepening project. In fact, the Corps report said, "Preliminary studies at other nearby harbors show that Charleston Harbor would probably be the cheapest South Atlantic harbor to deepen to 50 feet."

The mayors highlight that the United States needs a true deepwater Southeast port to remain competitive in international trade. "We must offer ocean carriers a 50-foot harbor to import and export their goods in the northeast, mid-Atlantic and southeast," the letter states.

Furthermore, the mayors affirm that of ports in the Southeast region deepening Charleston Harbor is the best value as the federal government fulfills its commitment to invest in maritime infrastructure.

The letter states, "Charleston has been deemed by the Corps of Engineers to be the best value for the taxpayer as the federal government invests in harbors and shipping channels in a region where approximately 26,000 companies in two dozen states utilize our port facilities. This fact cannot be overlooked as you and the Congress are challenged daily by the mounting federal debt and the need to balance the budget."

The 98 mayors signing the letter represent cities and towns large and small, rural and urban, and with local port-related industries in manufacturing, agricultural and distribution clusters. In South Carolina, nearly $12 billion in wages and more than 260,000 jobs are related to the port.

"We are extremely appreciative of and humbled by the mayors' support for Charleston deepening, particularly Charleston Mayor Joe Riley's leadership," said Jim Newsome, president and CEO of the South Carolina State Ports Authority. "Investing in port infrastructure gives companies across the region efficient access to global markets and supports hundreds of thousands of good jobs at a time when we desperately need them."

The mayors close the letter stating, "Our state and our port stand ready to complete necessary studies to construct this deepening project. "We simply need the money to plan the project and fire up the dredges."

Charleston today offers the deepest channels in the region, moving ships actually drafting up to 48 feet of water on high tide. Expansion of the Panama Canal will bring even more big ships to the East Coast, as companies and industries seek to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

Click here to read the letter.

About the South Carolina State Ports Authority
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 nearly $45 billion annually while receiving no direct taxpayer subsidy." An economic development engine for the state, port operations facilitate 260,800 jobs across South Carolina and $44.8 billion in economic activity each year. For more information, visit www.scspa.com.

Charleston Containers Up 19% in First Half, Harbor Deepening Reaches Milestone

Charleston, SC - Deepening of Charleston Harbor, already the deepest in the Southeast, reached another milestone as container volumes in the Port of Charleston increased 19 percent in the first half of 2010.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Charleston District has favorably concluded the Reconnaissance Study for the post-45-foot deepening project in Charleston Harbor. The study determined a federal interest in proceeding to the next step in the process - the feasibility phase - to further define time and costs associated with deepening Charleston's channels.

At the same time, container volumes in the Port of Charleston have continued to climb. Buoyed by new shipping services and major new investments in the area, container volume increased 19 percent during the first six months of 2010.

In June, pier containers at the Port of Charleston increased almost 34 percent over the previous year - the fourth straight month of year-over-year, double-digit increases.

Despite widespread declines in global trade in 2009, the SCSPA volumes rebounded during the past six months and closed its most recent fiscal year exceeding its budgeted container volume. In the accounting period that ended June 30, Charleston handled 741,208 pier containers, off 5.2 percent from FY2009.

"Despite a very challenging economic environment, the SCSPA posted an operating profit and enjoyed strong volume increases over the past six months," said Bill Stern, chairman of the SCSPA board. "While we expect volume to moderate in the latter half of the year, we're encouraged that business has returned at such a fast pace and we're headed in the right direction."

Contributing to the recent volume gains, Charleston added three new shipping services in FY2010, including Mediterranean Shipping Company's Golden Gate Service (GGS). The GGS, which had its first local call in February, is bringing ships of more than 8,000 20-foot equivalent units to the port on a regular basis. This highlights Charleston's deep-water capabilities in the Southeast region.

"The port is handling the biggest ships on the East Coast today while working toward even deeper channels that will secure our state's future in global trade," said Jim Newsome, SCSPA president and CEO.

On the cargo development side, major global corporations are locating or expanding in the port's service area while the SCSPA has launched new targeted sales efforts:

During the current fiscal year, which began on July 1, the SCSPA is projecting a seven percent increase in container volume and a more than 50 percent increase in breakbulk and non-container cargo.

At the same time, the SCSPA plans to invest nearly $77 million this fiscal year on terminal improvements, including work on the SCSPA's new container terminal on the former Navy Base as well as a new cruise terminal in downtown Charleston.

ABOUT THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE PORTS AUTHORITY - 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 nearly $45 billion annually while receiving no direct taxpayer subsidy. An economic development engine for the state, port operations facilitate 260,800 jobs across South Carolina and $44.8 billion in economic activity each year.

Charleston Deepening Advances in U.S. House

Charleston, SC - A key U.S. House committee today approved expedited studies of harbor deepening in the Port of Charleston through the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2010.

The South Carolina State Ports Authority (SCSPA) is seeking a post-45-foot deepening project to handle ever larger ships in the Port of Charleston, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is advancing the studies.

Thanking the leadership of 1st District Congressional Representative Henry Brown, SCSPA Board Chairman Bill Stern said, Congressman Brown has been a workhorse for our ports and this state for years. He keenly understands that shipping channels are national infrastructure, essential to the nation's economy and defense, as well as vital to jobs in South Carolina. We thank Congressman Brown for his efforts today to have this language in WRDA.

The language passed by the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee directs the Secretary of the Army to expedite completion of the Reconnaissance and Feasibility studies for the next deepening project in Charleston and to proceed with preconstruction, engineering and design once the project is justified.

The Port of Charleston is currently 47 feet deep at mean low water in the entrance channel and 45 feet deep inside the harbor. Charleston's channels have the opportunity to go even deeper, accommodating larger ships serving world trade with the expansion of the Panama Canal in 2014.

"Charleston already has the region's deepest channels and accommodates post-Panamax ships today," said Jim Newsome, president & CEO of the SCSPA. The next deepening will take Charleston beyond 45 and 47 feet, opening the port to all classes of the world's most modern vessels under any tidal condition. With the support of our delegation, we are ready for the Panama Canal expansion and beyond.

About the South Carolina State Ports Authority

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 nearly $45 billion annually while receiving no direct taxpayer subsidy. An economic development engine for the state, port operations facilitate 260,800 jobs across South Carolina and $44.8 billion in economic activity each year. For more information, visit www.scspa.com.

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