Wando Welch Terminal - SC Ports Authority

SC Ports Authority Awarded $10.8 Million TIGER Grant

Charleston, S.C. - SC Ports Authority has been awarded a 10.8 million dollar Transportation Infrastructure Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant for planned upgrades and improvements to its Wando Welch Terminal.

"We are deeply appreciative for the support of our Congressional delegation and the Obama Administration, who were instrumental in elevating the visibility of our port, an important asset to South Carolina and the entire nation," said Bill Stern, SCPA Board Chairman. "The Wando Terminal improvements ensure that the SCPA has the infrastructure necessary to handle growing import and export cargo volumes on a new generation of ocean vessels, supporting US trade goals and our nation's role in international commerce."

The US Department of Transportation grant represents nearly 13 percent of the total estimated project cost for upgrading the SCPA's busiest container terminal. The two-year project includes upgrades to structural support of the wharf and fendering system, as well as modifications to crane rails to accommodate two new super-post-Panamax cranes on order for the terminal.

"This announcement couldn't be more timely, given the information shared by industry experts at this week's SC International Trade Conference," said Jim Newsome, SCPA president and CEO. "The prevailing sentiment throughout the maritime community and supporting industries is that ports are facing significant infrastructure improvement needs. It is clear that post-Panamax vessels are the new standard and that port competitiveness is and will continue to be driven by the ability to accommodate big ships."

Construction on the project will begin in the spring of 2015 and will be completed in two or two and a half years, followed by the Post-45 Harbor Deepening Project and the opening of a new SCPA container terminal on the former Navy Base by the end of the decade.

South Carolina Ports FY Earnings, Volumes Surpass Plans

Charleston, SC - Today South Carolina Ports Authority reported 2014 fiscal year-end operating earnings of $14.3 million, 20.7 percent over the organization's financial plan.

From July through June, the SCPA posted operating revenues of $164.1 million, an increase of nearly 17 percent over the previous fiscal year. FY2014 expenses totaled $149.9 million.

"With the Port's aggressive capital plan for the next several years, solid financial performance is essential," said SCPA Board Chairman Bill Stern. "The strong 2014 fiscal year revenues reported today reflect that the SCPA remains focused on the growth necessary for these important projects."

Last month the SCPA announced 8 percent container growth for the fiscal year, handling 1.7 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) for an increase of 2 percent over plan. These results follow 9 percent increases the previous fiscal year and continue the SCPA's growth trend of more than double the market average.

"The last quarter of the 2014 fiscal year was the strongest the SCPA has seen in seven years," said SCPA president and CEO Jim Newsome. "With an 8 percent container volume increase and operating cash flow well above plan, we are well-positioned to continue moving forward with key strategic projects and continued above-market growth."

The SCPA's rail drayage program saw expanded participation by all major shipping lines in FY2014, demonstrating Charleston's capabilities as a rail-competitive port. Rail dray volume increased 136 percent over the previous fiscal year.

FY2014 was also marked by 17 percent growth of the SCPA's refrigerated cargo segment. The Charleston area's cold storage capacity is also on the rise, with three cold storage companies recently announcing plans to construct or grow existing facilities to support expansion of this market.

Looking ahead, major initiatives for the SCPA this fiscal year include continued work on harbor deepening, with the draft Environmental Impact Statement scheduled to be released this fall; construction on the Wando Welch Terminal wharf refurbishment project to begin in April 2015; and efforts to restructure container contracts and refine capital planning.

Volumes first month of the new fiscal year were positive, with pier containers up nearly 14 percent over July 2013.

As measured in twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), July volumes exceeded plan by 11 percent. The SCPA handled 153,916 TEUs during the month, a 13 percent increase over 138,601 TEUs seen in July 2013. Calendar year to date TEU volume reached 1,026,372 last month, up 11 percent from the same period last year.

July breakbulk cargo volumes also saw increases over 2013 levels. Charleston moved 55,485 pier tons, an increase of 8 percent over last July, and monthly volumes were also up 19 percent in Georgetown, with 71,135 pier tons moved.

SC Ports Announce Eight Percent Fiscal Year Growth

Charleston, SC - Today SC Ports Authority reported a strong finish for the 2014 fiscal year with 8 percent container growth, an increase of 2 percent over projected plans.

"Our above-market fiscal year growth again this year is testament to strong performance in our major business segments," said SCPA president and CEO Jim Newsome. "The implementation of our strategic plan is paying off, and the large capital investments committed to port infrastructure by the state of South Carolina and Ports Authority are yielding great dividends. Significant capital investment by major port users has also positively impacted volumes."

In June the SCPA handled 149,183 twenty foot equivalent units (TEUs), up 19 percent from 125,257 TEUs handled the same period last year. For the total fiscal year period, July through June, the SCPA moved 1,684,907 TEUs.

On the non-containerized cargo side, the SCPA handled 83,399 pier tons in June for a total of 763,230 pier tons during the fiscal year in Charleston, an increase of 3.6 percent over plan.

Despite depth challenges at the Port of Georgetown, the terminal exceeded projected plans with 553,039 pier tons handled during the fiscal year, an increase of 11.8 percent year over year.

"I'm extremely proud of our strong fiscal year performance," said Bill Stern, SCPA Board Chairman. "We have a strong Board, talented and visionary CEO and senior staff, and support from a productive maritime community."

Capital projects planned for fiscal year 2015 will support continued growth. Wando Welch Terminal will receive upgrades to accommodate increases in Post-Panamax vessel calls. Construction at the Navy Base Terminal and harbor deepening remain key strategic priorities for the SCPA over the next several years, as well as the opening of the SC Department of Commerce's intermodal container transfer facility. The Inland Port in Greer is meeting volume and performance objectives, and will continue to be a vital component of SCPA growth.

"I congratulate the SCPA on their above-plan performance," said Larry Grooms, SC Senate Transportation Committee Chairman and SC Ports Authority Review and Oversight Committee Chairman. "The SCPA has aggressively captured significant market growth in the Southeast recently, and its success in outpacing competitors is incredibly positive news for South Carolina."

About the South Carolina Ports Authority

The South Carolina Ports Authority, established by the state's General Assembly in 1942, owns and operates public seaport facilities in Charleston, Georgetown and Greer, handling international commerce valued at more than $63 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 nearly $45 billion in economic activity each year. For more information, visit?www.scspa.com.

SC Ports Posts Increase in Cargo Volume, Exports

Charleston, S.C. - The South Carolina Ports Authority handled 133,011 20-foot equivalent units, or TEUs, in September, increasing its FY2014 first quarter total volume by 3.3% over the same period last year.

From July through September 2013, the SCPA moved 413,818 TEUs. Total exports for the quarter reached 216,680 TEUs, a 4% increase for the Port over the first quarter of FY2013.

During the period 459 ships called on SCPA facilities, representing a 4.8% increase over plan. The SCPA currently has seven post-Panamax ship calls per week.

"Cargo growth is a top priority for the SC Ports Authority, and we increased volumes on ships that validate our deep-water strategy during the first quarter, meeting an extremely aggressive growth goal for the period," said SCPA Board Chairman Bill Stern.

"The maritime industry is experiencing a great deal of change," said SCPA President and CEO Jim Newsome. "There is concern among ocean carriers about how much demand there will be, but one thing is for certain - 13,000 TEU ships will be calling on the East Coast as soon as the Bayonne Bridge is raised."

The Inland Port is open, with SCPA staff on-site testing IT systems and handling other preliminary operational activities. Regular cargo activity is expected to begin this week with construction ongoing at the site through the end of the year.

"In the long term, the Inland Port will be catalyst for redefining how distribution is done in South Carolina and surrounding areas," said Newsome. "We have to focus on innovative solutions to logistics challenges. I think we'll look back on this as an extremely good investment."

Situated on a 91-acre site, the terminal offers overnight rail service to and from the Port of Charleston with initial utilization of approximately 40,000 container moves annually with the potential to expand to 100,000 moves annually.

In other action items, the Board authorized preliminary engineering work for structural wharf repairs and upgrades to the Wando Welch Terminal.

"The ships that called on the Port of Charleston in the 1970s when the Wando Welch Terminal was designed and constructed are no longer the ships of today," said Stern. "We're modernizing our facilities for the future. With bigger ships and deeper water, we're working to best utilize the land assets we have to continue to grow our Port."

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