CHARLESTON, S.C. — East Coast ports are looking to attract shipments from Asia in light of the soon-to-be-expanded Panama Canal and congestion on the West Coast earlier this year, and the Port of Charleston has cleared a hurdle in that effort.
On Thursday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Review Board unanimously approved final feasibility and environmental impact reports on a proposed deepening project that would give the Charleston port a depth of 52 feet.
“Today's approval by the Civil Works Review Board allows our harbor deepening project to progress without delay,” said Jim Newsome, South Carolina Ports Authority president and CEO. “Once deepening to 52 feet is realized, Charleston will offer the deepest harbor on the East Coast with the capability to serve fully-loaded post-Panamax vessels 24 hours a day. Our deepening project, coupled with significant SCPA investments in landside infrastructure and terminal capacity, supports SCPA cargo volume growth more than twice the national port average.”
The final report has been approved for release for a 30-day review period for state and resource agencies. The Corps chief's report is expected to be signed in September and then transmitted to Congress, with construction to begin following the preconstruction, engineering and design phase.
Efforts to deepen the Charleston harbor began in 2011 in order to provide the depth necessary to handle post-Panamax vessels that can currently navigate the harbor only at high tide.
The expansion of the Panama Canal and the raising of the Bayonne Bridge in New Jersey are expected to significantly increase the size of cargo vessels deployed to East Coast ports, making deep-water a requirement for modern ports. In addition, growth of population and manufacturing in the Southeast has been a significant driver of SCPA volume gains and the need for a deeper harbor. Charleston currently receives 11 post-Panamax vessel calls weekly.
