Carolinks/Safeports: The Key to Improving Logistics through The Port of
Charleston

February 14th, 2006: Today, Lucy Duncan-Scheman spoke to Rotarians about her private company Carolinks (also known as Safeports) of which she is President and Chief Executive Officer and how it will positively impact the Port of Charleston. Carolinks is poised to capture a large share of the Asian shipping market by building the first automated intermodal rail yard in the United States to be located here in Charleston. This innovative approach to the offloading and shipping of cargo containers will significantly improve the speed with which containers move through the Port of Charleston thus making our port the location of choice. Ms. Duncan-Scheman is a native Charlestonian having grown up on Sullivans Island. During her career she worked for a number of leading Information Technology companies opening new markets in locations all over the world. She became an expert in taking on major projects until they reached successful conclusions.

Our speaker built her company by combining her expertise in management information systems, “mission critical” project management, and her knowledge of worldwide shipping logistics especially as it relates to the Port of Charleston. She used this expertise to address what she considers to be a significant need in this country. That is, the increasing need to speed the offloading, handling and delivery of shipping container cargo through ports in this country and moreover, to do so in a cost-effective and secure way.

The United States has outsourced much of our manufacturing capabilities and in doing so is now importing more and more goods from all over the world, especially Asia. Ms. Duncan-Scheman offered Hong Kong as an example. Hong Kong is now the third largest port in Asia and currently ships about 18 million TEU’s (container units) of cargo space per year. In four years that number will be 31 million TEU’s. The west coast ports are currently log jammed which makes delivering cargo to the east coast more attractive.

Additionally, sailing to the east coast from Asia takes one day less than to the west coast. Our speaker clearly stated that the Port of Charleston needs to capture and own this potential market and will do so through her company.

When Carolinks is fully functional they will be able to unload the containers from a cargo ship, screen each one for potential hazards, place each on a pre-designated rail line, and launch it toward its destination within 24 hours.

Carolinks/Safeports is a job issue as well as a maritime security issue, an economic issue, and an environmental issue. The potential to benefit the city of Charleston and the state of South Carolina through improved safety and speed of handling through the Port of Charleston is going to be exciting to watch.

Reported by Helen Harloe, Keyway Committee