SC Ports Authority – Important for Charleston and the Region

Oct 8, 2013:  This week Rotary Club of Charleston welcomed James Newsome, President and CEO of South Carolina Ports Authority, to share his insight on the role of the Ports Authority on not only Charleston but on regional and national levels. Mr. Newsome received a bachelor’s degree in Transportation and Logistics in 1976 and an MBA in Transportation and Logistics in 1977 from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and became CEO of South Carolina Ports Authority in 2009.
     
Mr. Newsome’s discussion highlighted not only the importance of the port for Charleston and the region but also the strategic benefits the port offers relative to other ports and transportation hubs.  The Charleston port is the 10th largest US container port creating 1 in 10 jobs indirectly as a huge growth engine for global sourcing and manufacturing.  The port is also a major economic development engine for the state. Mr. Newsome pointed out the a major deciding factor for BMW’s locating in South Carolina was the port, as Nebraska was also being considered as a potential site.
     
He went on to explain that the port represents about $2 Billion in investment from both the State Ports Authority ($1.3 Billion in improvements) and the State ($700 Million for harbor deepening, new port access road among other projects).  The private sector is also investing heavily in the local economy as well with companies such as BMW, Adidas, Harbor Freight, Michelin, Amazon, Bosch (and the list goes on) having a significant presence in South Carolina. This also illustrated the importance that companies place on ports for global business.
     
Charleston is uniquely positioned to grow its cargo base. Charleston as a location is ideally suited to serve the Southeast which is the fastest growing region in the US in population, consumption, and manufacturing.  The future for the port lies in the Post Panamax vessels which require 50’ minimum depth in harbor. Currently only New York, Baltimore, Norfolk and Miami are authorized to be 50 feet. The Southeast needs a 50’ deep harbor and Charleston can provide that. Savannah, for instance, can only go to 47 feet deep. 1’ of draft equals the ability to handle 100 containers.
     
Additional strategic upgrades include the inland port in Greer with overnight rail from Norfolk Southern, the intermodal container transfer facility, more short haul rail, and distribution centers making the Port of Charleston the logical South Atlantic port for the Post Panamax era.

Submitted by Don Baus, Keyway Committee