Leatherman Terminal receives 1st container

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The first container arrived at the Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal yesterday, the S.C. Ports Authority said.

The container is one of many firsts the HLT will see in the coming weeks. The cargo was for BMW Manufacturing and arrived from Inland Port Greer.

SCPA President and CEO Jim Newsome called the arrival a momentous occasion.

“It gives our entire team and project partners tremendous pride to open the first container terminal in the U.S. since 2009,” he said. “Phase I of the Leatherman Terminal will add 700,000 TEUs of throughput capacity and an additional berth to the Port of Charleston, providing capacity and fluidity at a time it is sorely needed on the East Coast amid global shipping disruptions.”

Corinthian Brown of C&K Trucking picked it up from Norfolk Southern Corp. railyard. Rubber tire gantry operator Michael Blas placed it in the container yard.

The terminal is still wrapping up Phase I completion and isn’t scheduled to welcome ships until April.

A series of firsts at #SCPorts Leatherman Terminal! The 1st container, which is for @BMWUSA, arrived at #HLT from Inland Port Greer. Corinthian Brown of C&K Trucking picked it up at the @nscorp rail-yard. RTG operator Michael Blas placed it in the container yard. #TomorrowIsHere pic.twitter.com/q3IkFRvkSq

— South Carolina Ports (@SCPorts) March 30, 2021