SCPA posts strong box volumes in November

In addition, the United States Senate on Saturday passed S.612, the Water Infrastructure Improvement for the Nation Act, which included Congressional authorization for the 52-foot Charleston Harbor Deepening Project.    The South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) said Wednesday it handled 175,217 TEUs in November, surpassing its former strongest November on record, which was set in 2005, and up14 percent from last year.
   Since the beginning of SCPA’s fiscal year, which began in July, it has handled 864,970 TEUs, a 4 percent increase from the corresponding period a year prior.
   “We are ahead of plan for the fiscal year 2017 but expect a seasonally modest December through February as lines adjust to slowing world trade and prepare for new alliance deployments,” SCPA President and CEO Jim Newsome said. “The South Carolina Inland Port Greer continued to handle near-record volumes as we prepare to build a second inland port in Dillon County, S.C.“
   In addition, this past Saturday, the U.S. Senate passed S.612, the Water Infrastructure Improvement for the Nation Act (WIIN), which included Congressional authorization for the 52-foot Charleston Harbor Deepening Project, SCPA said. The legislation passed the Senate by a vote of 78-21 and the House by a vote of 360-61, and is now moving on to President Barack Obama to sign into law.
   By achieving a depth of 52 feet, SCPA on Saturday said it will be able to accommodate fully-loaded new-Panamax containerships without tidal restriction.
   Ocean carrier schedule and capacity database BlueWater Reporting’s Port Dashboard tool illustrates that 30 liner services call the South Atlantic port, 24 of which deploy fully cellular containerships. Of these container services, the G6 Alliance’s CEC loop between Asia and the East Coast of North America has the largest average vessel capacity at 9,372 TEUs.
   “By the end of the decade, we will achieve 52 feet of depth and Charleston will be the deepest harbor on the East Coast.” Newsome said. “This depth advantage will add significant capability in the fastest growing port region in the U.S., the Southeast. This is vitally important for significant long-term volume growth and the deployment of larger containerships.”