Charleston port volume reaches all-time record high

Charleston, SC – In 333 years, the Port of Charleston has never been busier. Container volume through Charleston increased 11% to more than 1.68 million TEUs in the Port’s most recent fiscal year (ended June 30), marking a new all-time record. Charleston’s sister port in Georgetown handled 1.5 million tons of bulk and breakbulk cargo, on par with the previous year. Port Royal tonnage declined 30% to 130,000 tons.

Imports from Asia accounted for a large portion of Charleston’s growth, with total loaded imports increasing 15% to 723,000 TEUs and loaded exports rising just slightly. Operating revenues topped $110.2 million, also an all-time high and an increase of 10% from the previous accounting period. Meanwhile, direct operating expense was held in check, rising less than 3%.

“Last year was our strongest accounting period on record using just about every measure,” said Bernard S. Groseclose Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer of the South Carolina State Ports Authority. “But it’s important that we keep the heat on our capital projects while continuing to control costs.”

To improve utilization of existing terminals, the Ports Authority is moving forward with a two-year, $128-million capital improvement plan that will allow the port to handle increasing cargo volume while maintaining productivity. All the work will be funded through internal sources, not tax dollars. In addition, the Charleston Harbor Deepening & Widening Project to -45 feet at low water is nearing its February 2004 completion date.

Improving security while maintaining the smooth flow of cargo also remains a priority. Charleston was awarded nearly $4 million in federal grants in the first two rounds of funding through the Transportation Security Administration, and the Port recently committed to the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, or C-TPAT.

Several new business accounts highlighted the year:

* Two carriers began new all-water services between Charleston and Asia through the Panama Canal. Maersk-Sealand added Charleston to its TP7 service, while the Grand Alliance started their new ECX2.

* Major contracts were renegotiated or extended with several of the Port’s key ocean carrier customers, including Atlanticargo, Farrell, CP Ships and the Grand Alliance.

* BMW shipments of finished vehicles and parts continued to increase at a double-digit pace. The automaker’s South Carolina plant produces the world’s supply of BMW X5s and Z4s.

* An agreement with American Port Services secured thousands of inbound Asian containers for a major retailer.

* The Port worked closely with the Military Traffic Management Command’s 841st Transportation Battalion to load several ships for Operation Enduring Freedom.

Operationally, the Port continued to provide world-class productivity while improving safety:

Reducing Turn Times – Charleston’s new real-time inventory tracking system, Yard Management System (YMS), proved its worth. Since December, turn times, or how long it takes a trucker to deliver or receive equipment, have been slashed 21% to just over 24 minutes at the North Charleston Terminal. This improved productivity came in the face of 28% volume growth. Preparations are underway to deploy YMS at the Port’s largest container facility, the Wando Welch Terminal.

Vessel Production – Charleston’s crane productivity also remained among the highest in the world, with a year-long average of 37.5 moves per crane per hour – 913,050 total lifts during the year on 24,335 total crane production hours. This figure is expected to increase with the delivery of two new container cranes in the second quarter of FY04.

Improving Safety – In three years, a renewed safety initiative reduced the number of recordable injuries 29% and decreased lost work days by 83%. The incident rate, which measures how the Port compares to other in the industry, has declined nearly 25% since 2000.

For More Information:
Byron D. Miller
S.C. State Ports Authority
PO Box 22287
Charleston, SC 29413-2287
phone:843.577.8197

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