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Charleston home to deepest harbor on East Coast after $580M project

Jason Thomas //December 6, 2022//

Charleston home to deepest harbor on East Coast after $580M project

Jason Thomas //December 6, 2022//

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Charleston Harbor is now the deepest harbor on the East Coast at 52 feet.

At that depth, the biggest ships calling on the East Coast can access South Carolina Ports’ terminals any time, any tide, a news release from the South Carolina Ports Authority stated. Ships filled with record imports and heavy exports can seamlessly sail through Charleston Harbor to SC Ports’ terminals.

This depth makes SC Ports more competitive, helping to attract new ship services, first-in-calls and more cargo to South Carolina, the release stated.

Gov. Henry McMaster and other state elected leaders, Congressional members, project partners, business and maritime community leaders, and SC Ports officials gathered to mark the successful completion of the project.

The deepened harbor will support South Carolina’s economy and Southeast supply chains, according to the release.

SC Ports CEO Barbara Melvin, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, Congresswoman Nancy Mace, Gov. Henry McMaster, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, Brig. Gen. Daniel H. Hibner of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Lt. Col. Andrew Johannes of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers celebrate the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project. (Photo/SCPA/English Purcell)“It is a truly historical moment to be celebrating this monumental achievement. Charleston Harbor has been deepened to 52 feet,” SC Ports President and CEO Barbara Melvin said at the event. “With the deepest harbor on the East Coast, we can efficiently work mega container ships at any tide. This investment will bring economic success to South Carolina for generations to come.”

South Carolina Ports and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District partnered on the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project, the release stated. The roughly $580 million infrastructure project was fully funded by state and federal dollars.

Deepening work began in 2018, thanks to $300 million the state set aside in 2012, followed by several infusions of federal funding, according to the release. In 2019, Congress appropriated $138 million for the project, funding it to completion.

The Army Corps awarded five dredging contracts — three to Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Corp., one to Norfolk Dredging Co. and one to Marinex Construction Inc. — and the work was completed in four years, the release stated.

Deepening began in the entrance channel and continued through the harbor up to SC Ports’ three container terminals.

Related content: Work begins on $550M South Carolina Ports projects

Related content: South Carolina port to double capacity — what it means for the supply chain

The entrance channel was deepened to 54 feet to seamlessly handle vessels coming and going to SC Ports. A 52-foot depth was achieved in Charleston Harbor up to both Wando Welch Terminal and Leatherman Terminal, and a 48-foot depth was achieved between Leatherman Terminal and North Charleston Terminal, the release stated.

Turning basins were also widened in front of Wando Welch Terminal and Leatherman Terminal, enabling ships to easily pass one another and turn around without restrictions, according to the release.

“Our deepening project was completed faster than any other project of its kind in the nation. It required tremendous dedication, collaboration and creativity from everyone involved over the past decade,” Melvin said. “We had an amazing project partner — the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District — as well as the dredging companies, environmental groups and business partners who worked alongside us. Thank you to Governor Henry McMaster, the SC Legislature, our Congressional delegation and the Obama and Trump Administrations for fully funding this transformational project.”

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