Ports of the Americas

Special Report

“ The southern connection has been the most challenging piece of the project,” Melvin told the committee, adding that steel tariffs will also contribute to cost overruns. Until the southern connection opens, only CSX will be able to access the rail yard through its north tracks.

In addition to the south access, NS needs four miles of siding for passing trains, the railroad unexpectedly informed SC Ports this summer, Melvin said. The siding is expected to cost about $ 28 million and was originally thought to be part of NS’ own capital plans, she said.

“ You are paying a premium to order non-Chinese cranes.”

NS said in a statement to the Journal of Commerce that it has informed SC Ports about what it needs to utilize the site, specifically“ tracks leading into the facility as well as construction of a passing siding in North Charleston.”

“ We remain committed to the success of the Navy Base intermodal facility and to collaborating to get this facility online as quickly as possible,” NS said.

Melvin told the state senate committee she expects NS could use the facility as early as October 2026, when the first phase of the southern access is ready.

Tariff hit on cranes

For barges, SC Ports planned to build a 700-foot berth extension at Wando Welch. But since applying for a permit in 2018 and after four follow-ups, the US Army Corps of Engineers has yet to issue a permit for the berth, Melvin said. She said the berth hoped to win some $ 45 million in federal grants applied for under the Biden administration but did not receive the funding.

Melvin told the state senate committee SC Ports expects Wando’ s barge berth could cost $ 76 million,“ if we can get a permit quickly and proceed, but if we cannot, that price won’ t hold.”

“ We could still operate a barge [ at Wando’ s existing berths ], but it’ s not ideal,” she said.

The Leatherman terminal’ s plans to build another 1,600 feet of berth will allow it to handle a barge along with an additional container ship, Melvin said. However, the original plan only called for adding half that length. Melvin said that given the overall cost increases, SC Ports

Santos readies development of South America’ s largest box terminal

By Laura Robb

The planned $ 1 billion terminal would boost capacity in Santos( pictured) by nearly 60 %. Stefan Lambauer / Shutterstock. com boosting its annual container capacity by almost 60 % to 8.73 million TEUs and allowing it to handle 20,000-TEU ships, many of those from Asia.

Data from maritime consultancy Drewry shows container volumes through Santos grew 8 % year over year in the first seven months of 2025, and the Santos Port Authority forecasts volumes to continue growing at about 3 % annually. Over the last five years, Santos’ compound annual growth rate for revenue has been almost 11 %.

“ There is no denying that there is an urgent need for additional capacity at the Port of Santos,” Eleanor Hadland, Drewry’ s lead analyst for ports and terminals, told the Journal of Commerce.

“ There is no denying that there is an urgent need for additional capacity at the Port of Santos.”

Brazil’ s Port of Santos seeks to develop what would be the largest container terminal in South America, with plans to hold an auction, possibly before the end of this year, to determine who will develop and operate the $ 1.06 billion facility.

The terminal, known as Tecon Santos 10, would cement the port’ s status as the biggest gateway on the continent,

Financing, roadway concerns

The planned search for a developer and operator of Tecon Santos 10 has not been without controversy, according to Brazilian outlet Valor International. Brazil’ s National Waterway Transport Agency approved a two-phase auction process that would prohibit several carriers, including Maersk, Mediterranean Shipping Co. and CMA CGM, from participating in the first round to boost the chances of smaller terminal operators.

52 Journal of Commerce | October 6, 2025 www. joc. com