Staff reports | Recent investments to add a berth, increase cargo capacity and deepen Charleston harbor provide critical opportunities for the Port of Charleston, said Jim Newsome, the president and CEO of the S.C. Ports Authority who announced his retirement during an annual report card last week about the agency.
IN THIS EDITION
FOCUS: Lejeune’s toxic water haunts James Island survivor
COMMENTARY, Brack: Verify, then trust: How to get more out of your news diet
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Morris Financial Concepts, Inc.
NEWS BRIEFS: Investments to give big opportunities for Charleston’s port, CEO says
FEEDBACK: Don’t set up students for failure
MYSTERY PHOTO: The pink cone
CALENDAR: North Charleston gallery to exhibit works by Carroll, Garrard
Staff reports | The South Carolina Ports Authority saw some positive cargo trends in August, pointing to a slow but emerging recovery during the ongoing global pandemic.
SC Ports handled 208,837 twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEUs) at the Wando Welch and North Charleston container terminals in August, down about 10 percent year-over-year, according to a press release. When compared to recent months however, volumes are trending positively, with TEUs up 18 percent since July and up 33 percent since June. Furthermore, the ports moved 116,248 pier containers, down 12 percent year-over-year, but up 17 percent from July and up 31 percent from June.
By Lindsay Street, Statehouse correspondent | Plastic is a growing export business in South Carolina, but the tiny plastic pellets could also be a big environmental hazard — and the next battle in the so-called War on Plastic.
State Ports Authority CEO Jim Newsome last week called plastic transportation “a significant part” of the port’s growth strategy.
But downstream from the port’s headquarters on the Cooper River, Sullivans Island Mayor Pat O’Neil said he’s worried. The town’s single-use plastic ban appeared to curb litter. Then in July, a spill of plastic pellets (also known as nurdles) from Frontier Logistics at the port traveled to its beaches. Despite cleanup efforts, pellets remain in the sand, the mayor said. The pellets are used in the production of plastic homegoods.
“Industry is important (and) economic growth is important but we need to be selective and prudent in the types of industries we encourage,” O’Neil said.
IN THIS EDITION OF CHARLESTON CURRENTS
FOCUS: As local governments ban plastics, port grows plastics business
BRACK: New York trip was a delight for the ears and eyes
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
PHOTO ESSAY: On the road again
FEEDBACK: Send us your thoughts
MYSTERY PHOTO: Another old building
S.C. ENCYCLOPEDIA: Author Julia Peterkin
CALENDAR: League of Women Voters to hold 10 candidate forums
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.”
Staff reports | S.C. Ports Authority (SCPA) President and CEO Jim Newsome last week told 600 customers and leaders outlined the organization’s successes and strategic infrastructure investments to continue growth during the annual State of the Port address at the Charleston Area Convention Center.
“We had a really good year in fiscal year 2018,” Newsome said. “We saw record cargo come through the Port, and we completed the Wando Welch Terminal refurbishment project. We worked together as a team towards a vision of being the preferred port of the top 10 U.S. Ports.”
The SCPA’s volumes for the 2018 fiscal year, which ran July 2017 through June 2018, were record-breaking, according to a press release. The port handled 2.2 million 20-foot equivalent container units (TEUs), an increase of 3 percent over the previous fiscal year. March through June marked the highest months of container volume in the port’s history.
Charleston Currents #11.01 | Nov. 5, 2018
FOCUS: Newsome pushes infrastructure investments for port’s growth
COMMENTARY, Brack: Drop rhetorical frenzy and focus more on unity
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: SCIWAY
GOOD NEWS: New poll highlights S.C.’s pre-election mood, more
FEEDBACK: Send us your comments … share your thoughts
MYSTERY PHOTO: Flower power
S.C. ENCYCLOPEDIA: Soybeans
CALENDAR: Thursday event to look at state’s Turkish connection
Staff reports | Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg and fellow members of the Charleston Freedom School Advisory Committee will hold a press conference today announcing the successful fundraising campaign and latest plans for a Charleston Freedom School, a six-week literacy program this summer for 50 at-risk peninsula students.
We Can Do Better, South Carolina! (2019) by editor and publisher Andy Brack offers incisive commentaries on the American South, politics, the common good and interesting South Carolina leaders. Available exclusively for Kindle for $7.99. A paperback version will be ready soon. Learn more.
Charleston Currents is brought to you free of charge thanks to the generosity of our underwriters:
Charleston City Paper, an alt-weekly seen by more than 100,000 people, offers the latest on news, views, arts, dining and music. Sign up for newsletters that will keep you up-to-date all week.
Statehouse Report is a renowned statewide policy and politics forecast published every Friday that informs South Carolina’s opinion leaders with key insights and news.
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Use our feed
Send us your comments
Recent Comments