Charleston Harbor is now the deepest harbor on the United States East Coast with a depth of 15.85 meters (52 feet).
With this depth, the biggest ships calling the East Coast of the United States can access South Carolina Ports’ terminals at any time. Ships filled with record imports and heavy exports can seamlessly sail through Charleston Harbor to SC Ports’ terminals.
Governor 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.
“It is a truly historical moment to be celebrating this monumental achievement. Charleston Harbor has been deepened to 15.85 meters,” stated SC Ports president and CEO, Barbara Melvin.
She added, “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 US Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District partnered on the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project. The roughly US$580 million infrastructure project was fully funded by state and federal dollars.
Deepening work began in 2018, thanks to US$300 million the state set aside in 2012, followed by several infusions of federal funding. In 2019, Congress appropriated US$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.
Deepening began in the entrance channel and continued through the harbor up to SC Ports’ three container terminals.
The entrance channel was deepened to 16.45 meters to seamlessly handle vessels coming and going to SC Ports. A 15.85 meters depth was achieved in Charleston Harbor up to both Wando Welch Terminal and Leatherman Terminal, and a 14.63 meters depth was achieved between Leatherman Terminal and North Charleston Terminal.
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.
“On behalf of the board, I want to congratulate the entire SC Ports team and all our project partners on successfully deepening Charleston Harbor to 15.85 meters,” said SC Ports Board chairman, Bill Stern.
