South Carolina port volumes up

South Carolina port volumes up    The Port of Charleston handled 108,994 TEUs in February, 7 percent more than the 101,900 TEUs handled in February 2010.
   Volume for the first eight months of its fiscal year (July through February) increased 12.4 percent to 912,789 TEUs.
   The South Carolina State Ports Authority said volumes have benefited from streamlining the port's container business in January, which has been consolidated at the Wando Welch and North Charleston terminals. The port said customers are benefiting from extended gate hours and all customer now have access to the SCSPA's information systems. Capacity has been boosted by about 10 percent.
   Breakbulk tonnage in the ports of Charleston and Georgetown was up more than 44 percent to 657,528 tons for the July-February period.
   A $21.7-million project to reconfigure and improve Columbus Street Terminal as Charleston's principal breakbulk, roll-on/roll-off and project cargo-handling facility was completed last month. The terminal now handles BMW's growing export vehicle business that last year totaled more than $4 billion in cars shipped through the Port of Charleston.