SOUTH CAROLINA COMMITS TO BUILDING CHARLESTON CONTAINER TERMINAL

SOUTH CAROLINA COMMITS TO BUILDING CHARLESTON CONTAINER TERMINAL    The South Carolina General Assembly this week unanimously adopted a resolution to support the expansion of Charleston seaport’s container operations on the former Charleston Naval Base.
   The state assembly said it would endorse the “expeditious” processing of construction permits for the new container terminal to be located at the south end of the former naval base. The proposed terminal would include 3,000 feet of berthing space and 247 acres of container yard.
   “This should send a strong message to the port’s customers,” said Bernard S. Groseclose Jr., president and chief executive officer for the South Carolina State Ports Authority. “South Carolina intends to expand the Port of Charleston.”
   Last year, the port authority and city of North Charleston agreed to divide the 1,500-acre former naval base. Under the agreement, the port authority would receive about 10,000 feet of water frontage along the deep-draft Cooper River and several hundred acres of land behind the waterfront.