GOOD NEWS: Ports Authority continues bullish growth

Staff reports  |  The S.C. Ports Authority handled record cargo volumes in the fiscal year ending June 30, moving almost 2.4 million twenty-foot-equivalent container units.

“By setting another record for annual cargo volumes, the South Carolina Ports Authority has further established itself as one of our state’s premier economic drivers,” said Gov. Henry McMaster in a press release. “This unprecedented success and growth will continue as we work to complete the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project, which will increase capacity and ensure that Charleston has the deepest harbor on the East Coast by 2021.” 

On top of an 8.8 percent growth in moving container cargo, other highlights include success at its two inland ports and rail connections.

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 percent from the prior year. Inland Port Greer reported 14,689 rail moves last month.

Inland Port Dillon, now In its first full year of business, handled around 30,000 rail moves in fiscal 2019.

SCPA’s RapidRail program, which provides a seamless connection between rail yards and marine terminals, saw a record year with more than 330,000 rail moves in fiscal 2019. The port now handles 24 percent of containerized volumes by intermodal container rail — the highest annual percentage in the port’s history.

Downtown terminal.  The port handled 18,307 vehicles at  Columbus Street Terminal  in June for a total of 194,771 vehicles in fiscal 2019. Total breakbulk cargo was 625,323 pier tons for the fiscal year.

Passengers.  SCPA saw a total of 213,081 cruise passengers and 1,696 ships docked in fiscal 2019.

“As we head into fiscal 2020, we will continue investing in our infrastructure to handle growth, as well as supporting our employees and the entire maritime community who make these significant achievements possible,” said SCPA CEO Jim Newsome.

In other Good News, some of which isn’t so good:

Big success.  Congratulations to East Cooper Community Outreach for pulling in more than $220,000 in donations through its April 22 charity golf tournament and its “A Night to Shine” gala on May 17.  More than 150 golfers participated in the tournament on Daniel Island while another 270 people gathered for the gala, according to a press release.

New truck.  Food Lion Feeds has donated a new 26-foot refrigerated truck to the Lowcountry Food Bank to help it meet its mission to fight hunger in 10 area counties.  “This new, refrigerated truck from Food Lion Feeds eases the hard choices that families are forced to make when they are hungry,” said Pat Walker, LCFB president and CEO. “The truck helps provides our community with equitable access to nutritious food, including fresh produce.”

Big donation.  A hat tip to BP, which has announced a $1 million donation to support construction of the International African American Museum, its program and its educational initiatives.  

Lack of college board diversity.   A Statehouse Report review of South Carolina’s public universities found governing board members are 75.8 percent male and 84.5 percent white — and zero members were of Latino, Asian or Native American ethnicity. Read the full story here.  

Bad drug news.  A map by the Washington Post last week of Drug Enforcement Administration data showed Charleston County had an average of 248.3 pills per person dispensed per year of opioids from 2006 to 2012.  It was the highest number of pills per person in the country. Our sister publication, Statehouse Report, reached out to Charleston County spokesman Shawn Smetana to see if the county was reconsidering joining or filling a prescription drug lawsuit. Smetana said the county’s position has not changed since the publication’s June 28 story.