Charleston has record-setting volumes

   The South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) said it handled record cargo volumes at the Port of Charleston in its 2018-19 fiscal year.
   SCPA handled nearly 2.4 million TEUs of containerized cargo in the 12-month period ending June 30, an 8.8% increase over the prior fiscal year.
   In June, the SCPA moved 200,406 TEUs across the Wando Welch and North Charleston container terminals.
   “While we expect more modest growth in fiscal 2020, we are optimistic about the future and continue to invest in our infrastructure,” said Jim Newsome, the president and chief executive officer of the SCPA.
   The port’s inland terminals also were busy. Inland Port Greer, now in its sixth year of operation, reported its busiest fiscal year yet with 143,204 rail moves in fiscal 2019, up nearly 22% from the prior year. Inland Port Greer reported 14,689 rail moves last month.
   In its first full year of business, Inland Port Dillon handled 29,580 rail moves in fiscal 2019.
   SCPA reported more than 330,000 rail moves in the fiscal year through its RapidRail program, which connects rail yards and marine terminals. The port now handles 24% of containerized volumes by intermodal container rail — the highest annual percentage in port history.
   The port handled 18,307 vehicles at Columbus Street Terminal in June for a total of 194,771 vehicles in fiscal 2018-19.
   Meanwhile, television station WTOC is reporting that $8 million has been included in the state’s budget for the SCPA to acquire land and perform studies for a new Jasper Ocean Terminal on the Savannah River.
   South Carolina State Sen. Tom Davis told the broadcaster that $5 million would be used to buy a piece of property called the Sherwood Tract “so it can be developed into a commercial establishment that would rely upon the Jasper Port for import/export needs.”
   The other $3 million would be used for various studies, WTOC reported.