Backed by state support and receiving unanimous approval from the Board of Directors, South Carolina Ports (SC Ports) intends to acquire the former WestRock paper mill site in North Charleston to enhance the capacity of the Port of Charleston.
The SC Ports Board of Directors voted to proceed with a purchase sales agreement with WestRock, with the transaction anticipated to conclude promptly.
“The tremendous backing from our state and an excellent partnership with WestRock allows us to make investments today that will support our state’s economy and create opportunities for future generations of South Carolinians. We are adding significant port capacity to support growth in South Carolina and throughout the Southeast,” stated Barbara Melvin, president and CEO of SC Ports.
Spanning approximately 1.13 million square meters, this industrial waterfront property is adjacent to the North Charleston Terminal, providing a seamless expansion opportunity for the container terminal. This extension will empower SC Ports to accommodate increased cargo volumes for businesses reliant on the port.
The acquisition of this additional land will enhance the terminal’s capacity, enabling it to handle up to 5 million containers in the future. Furthermore, it will result in the creation of approximately 1,524 meters of linear berth space for container vessels and around 400 acres of terminal area dedicated to cargo operations.
“South Carolina’s economy is prospering, and we must continue to invest in our world-class port system to support the companies investing in our state. This is an incredible opportunity to enhance our high-performing North Charleston Terminal with renewed capacity to handle future growth,” said Melvin.
SC Ports is set to modernize the existing North Charleston Terminal by implementing an optimized layout, upgrading cargo-handling equipment, and significantly expanding container capacity. These enhancements aim to deliver more dependable and efficient port services.
Furthermore, customers will benefit from on-terminal rail services provided by Palmetto Railways, offering dual connectivity to CSX and Norfolk Southern, along with easy access to Interstate 526.
Playing a crucial role in the project, the South Carolina Department of Transportation plans to replace the Don Holt Bridge as part of its Interstate 526 expansion, removing height restrictions for larger vessels.
Additionally, plans are in progress to deepen the stretch of the Cooper River up to the North Charleston Terminal to a depth of 15.8 meters. The US Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District, is conducting a feasibility study, a pivotal initial step towards achieving this depth increase.
Combined with the new bridge height, these efforts will facilitate seamless access for the largest container ships calling at the Port of Charleston to the North Charleston Terminal.
“Modernizing the terminal, raising the Don Holt Bridge, deepening the Cooper River and purchasing the former WestRock property are all critical components that will yield a state-of-the-art North Charleston Terminal. These achievements would not be possible without the support and foresight from Governor Henry McMaster, SC House Speaker Murrell Smith, SC Senate President Thomas Alexander and the entire SC Legislature,” noted Melvin.
In addition, the site serves as a crucial support hub for Ingevity Corporation’s manufacturing facility in North Charleston. SC Ports has maintained close collaboration with Ingevity to ensure alignment of their future requirements during this transition phase.
SC Ports, in partnership with SCDOT, Palmetto Railways, Ingevity, and the City of North Charleston, will collaborate on master planning the infrastructure to effectively bolster the region’s economy and cater to the needs of its residents.
“This land purchase represents a tremendous opportunity to position our port system and our state competitively for decades to come. Our port infrastructure investments directly support thousands of South Carolina companies that depend on SC Ports to do business, and we are expanding to ensure we can handle the growth in the Southeast,” stated Bill Stern, board chairman of SC Ports.
