Port of Charleston containers up 8.3%

Port of Charleston containers up 8.3%    The South Carolina State Ports Authority said volumes through its ports increased across all business segments in the fiscal year ending June 30.
   The port of Charleston handled 1.38 million TEUs, 8.3 percent more than the prior fiscal year.
   Charleston and Georgetown handled 991,705 tons of breakbulk cargo during the year, and the port said it saw growth in vehicles, project cargo, heavy lift, bulk and traditional breakbulk cargoes.
   'These results show the confidence our customers place in the ports of Charleston and Georgetown, and it means jobs at a time we could really use them,' said Jim Newsome, the port authority's president and chief executive officer.
   At a regular monthly board meeting, Newsome highlighted other strategic accomplishments for the year:
   ' Extending South Carolina's overweight permit limit to 100,000 pounds gross vehicle weight for all shipping containers.
   ' Expanding on-site and off-terminal transloading capabilities for export products.
   ' Completing a $22 million project to transform Columbus Street Terminal into a Charleston’s premier rolling stock, breakbulk and project cargo terminal.
   ' Consolidating container operations and harmonizing gate operations under one simplified structure to increase efficiency.
   ' Furthering design of a new cruise terminal to open in 2013.
   ' Advancing the Charleston Harbor Deepening project. The port said it is already receiving four ships a week that are too large to fit through the Panama Canal, a development it said “underscores the national need for a true post-Panamax harbor in the Southeast region.” In July, Charleston hosted its first 9,200-TEU ship.