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SOUTH CAROLINA TRADE AND LOGISTICS
throughout the Southeast. NBIF will provide a capacity of 1 million container lifts per year, nearly triple the amount of cargo currently moved by rail there today.
In the long term, SC Ports is on a path to unlock 10 million TEUs in the Charleston Harbor, an unmatched advantage. In addition to the Leatherman Terminal capacity, SC Ports is planning to expand and modernize the North Charleston Terminal( NCT).
In April 2024, SC Ports purchased the former WestRock paper mill site in North Charleston in order to expand capacity at the Port of Charleston. With 280 acres of waterfront property adjacent to NCT, this offers a logical place for terminal extension.
Currently estimated to come online in the 2040s, the terminal will be SC Ports’ largest— capable of handling 5 million TEUs, 5,000 linear feet of berth and 400 acres of dedicated cargo space.
“ SC Ports prioritizes investing in infrastructure ahead of demand to ensure capacity and fluidity for shippers,” Padgett said.
Shippers have already seen benefits from the deep harbor and the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, which has a height of more than 150 feet to ensure cargo ships pass safely under its main span. Plans are also in the works to equalize the channel in the Charleston Harbor from Leatherman
Terminal up to NCT to match the 52-foot depth, as well as raise and replace the Don Holt Bridge on Interstate 526. These projects will allow the largest ships in the world to call all three of SC Ports’ ocean terminals in the future.
As physical infrastructure progresses, SC Ports is also investing in technology to keep pace with increased volumes of all types of cargo. It combines in-house systems with analytics from its partners to increase productivity on the terminals.
Real-time data is available to carriers and partners, enabling the Port of Charleston to keep berths fluid and carriers to minimize vessel idle time while also contributing to a more efficient schedule. BCOs benefit from real-time container availability to ensure immediate access to their cargo.
Responsiveness to BCOs and operating partners is paramount at SC Ports to quickly solve problems that can inevitably arise in a busy operation. Padgett recalled one example of its importance in quickly solving the problems that can inevitably arise in a busy operation.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic,“ we had a major retailer seeking transloading capability, and we were able to think outside of the box to stand up a temporary facility on what will be Phase III of the Hugh Leatherman Terminal,” he said.“ This allowed the retailer to move cargo through the Port of Charleston effectively and ultimately find a permanent transload facility centrally located between our Wando Welch and North Charleston Terminals.”
Behind the concrete and technological innovation, SC Ports’ workforce is the foundation of its reputation for service.
“ The most valuable asset at SC Ports is our people,” Padgett said.“ As a core value, we are committed to providing our workforce with the necessary training and skills to provide efficient and superior service for our customers. I would argue it is what sets us apart from other East Coast Ports.”
Looking ahead, SC Ports’ leadership plans to focus on efficiency and capacity to improve its competitive position among US and global ports.
“ With significant infrastructure projects moving forward to strengthen reliability and increase capacity, SC Ports will be well positioned to serve as a gateway to a growing Southeastern market,” Padgett said. n
email: gary @ garywrites. com
Gateway to the booming Southeast
As the eighth-largest US container port, South Carolina Ports provides reliable, highly productive port service for companies’ supply chains. With 27 weekly services at the Port of Charleston, including critical first-in calls from key markets in Asia and Europe, imports and exports flow swiftly between the US Southeast and international markets.
SC Ports has the deepest harbor on the US East Coast at 52 feet, big-ship capabilities, cargo capacity and efficient operations to move goods to market. Two rail-served inland ports provide quick access to inland markets, ensuring goods rapidly move to and from the Port of Charleston.
SC Ports will soon enhance rail capabilities with a new stateof-the-art, rail-served intermodal yard near the Port of Charleston. The Navy Base Intermodal Facility will be served by both CSX and Norfolk Southern.
“ The Southeast market remains strong, with a growing population driving imports and new manufacturing investments spurring exports,” said SC Ports President and CEO Phil Padgett.“ SC Ports provides reliable port service and has a long-term growth plan to expand cargo capacity at the Port of Charleston to 10 million TEUs— an unmatched asset in the Southeast.”
As more cargo shifts from the West Coast to the East Coast, SC Ports remains a preferred port for customers.
“ SC Ports is a powerhouse port with a reputation among portdependent businesses for providing reliable, consistent service. Our maritime community sets us apart from other ports,” Padgett said.“ We remain hyper focused on providing the operational excellence that our customers have come to expect from us, while proactively investing in port capacity to efficiently handle their growth.”
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64 Journal of Commerce | October 6, 2025 www. joc. com