“WRDA is critical legislation for port and port-related infrastructure modernization projects across the country, and we are grateful to Senators Graham and Scott for their unwavering support of its passage,” said Jim Newsome, SCPA president and CEO. “We are extremely pleased that the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project will now move forward to the House for final authorization. Congressional approval will allow project construction to begin, ensuring the Port remains on track to deliver all of the capabilities needed of a modern harbor by the end of the decade.”

The Senate passed the bill 95-3 with nearly unanimous bipartisan support. From a national perspective, the legislation includes critical authorizations necessary for the U.S. to compete in the global marketplace as well as strengthens floodwater protections of coastal and inland communities.

“Our entire delegation recognizes the importance of this bill as the final hurdle for Charleston Harbor Deepening,” said SCPA Board Chairman Pat McKinney. “We applaud their continued dedication and focus on economic growth in South Carolina by helping our port system remain competitive.”

The House bill is expected to receive strong support from a South Carolina delegation united in their support of the project.

“We are encouraged by the Senate’s passage of the Water Resources Development Act of 2016, which includes authorization of the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project to 52 feet. The South Carolina Ports Authority’s ability to handle New Panamax vessels is critical to businesses large and small across our state and region and vital to the nation’s economy. We look forward to working with House Leadership, Chairman Shuster, and Ranking Member DeFazio in order to optimize debate time on the floor and look forward to the passage of a WRDA bill this Congress,” said South Carolina Congressmen Mark Sanford (SC – 1), Joe Wilson (SC – 2), Jeff Duncan (SC – 3), Trey Gowdy (SC – 4), Mick Mulvaney (SC – 5), Jim Clyburn (SC – 6) and Tom Rice (SC – 7) in a joint statement.

Efforts to deepen the Charleston Harbor began in 2012, and the project progressed quickly as the first feasibility study completed entirely through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers SMART Planning process. The USACE’s original estimate of seven years and $20 million dollars for the study and associated environmental reviews and permits was nearly cut in half to four years and $11 million as a result of the new program, as well as collaboration with state and federal partner agencies. It received its Chief’s Report in just four years.
Most recently, the project received its Record of Decision by the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) in January and has since awaited authorization through WRDA.

“This is good news for our state and another step towards final authorization of the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project,” said Gov. Nikki Haley. “We will continue working with our federal delegation, state leaders and members of the General Assembly to deepen Charleston’s port, as the success of this project is vital to South Carolina building on the record-breaking economic development momentum we’ve seen over the last five years.”

“The Senate’s action today is incredibly positive news for the Port and the entire state,” said Senator Larry Grooms, SC Review and Oversight Commission on the SCPA Chairman. “This world-class deepening project will ensure our Port remains well-positioned for future growth. I congratulate Senators Graham and Scott for their efforts, and encourage the U.S. House to bring this critical infrastructure bill across the finish line.”

The launching ceremony was initiated by Mrs. Sarah Tommelein, spouse of Mr. Bart Tommelein, Vice-Minister-President of the Government of Flanders and Flemish Minister for Energy.

The cable installation vessel ‘Living Stone’ is engineered with the latest innovations in its category. The vessel is equipped with two turntables below deck, each having a 5,000 tons cable capacity. Together the turntables can carry and transport more than 200 km of cable that can be installed in a single trip. Ample deck space of 3,500 m2 facilitates a revolutionary cable handling system with innovative and reliable cable handling tools for cable ends, connections and cable protection systems. Furthermore, the ‘Living Stone’ can be equipped with a third carrousel above deck with an additional load capacity of 2,000 tons and a 600 tons crane. A system developed in-house by Tideway enables the ‘Living Stone’ to install cables faster and more efficiently in longer lengths and with less offshore joints than any other cable installation vessel.

The vessel will serve transport and installation projects as well as offshore power cable installations, interconnectors for the future European Supergrid amongst others.

The ‘Living Stone’ features DP3 (Dynamic Positioning 3) capability and has been designed as an environmentally friendly vessel with dual fuel engines with LNG being its prime fuel. The ‘Living Stone’ has a Green Passport and the Clean Design Notation awarded to owners and operators who choose to design and operate their vessels in an environmentally sustainable approach.

The ‘Living Stone’ can accommodate a crew of up to 100 persons and will be deployed by DEME’s Dutch subsidiary Tideway. The unique vessel is scheduled to be delivered in the second quarter of 2017 and will head to its first project at the Merkur offshore wind farm in Germany, 45 km north of Borkum in the North Sea, for the installation of inter array cables. The ‘Living Stone’ will also be deployed for the cable installation at the world’s largest offshore wind farm Hornsea Project One in the UK.

“August container unit volumes were the third highest in the Authority’s history, behind April and May 2015 at the height of diverted cargo from the West Coast,” Lynch said. “Loaded imports continue to perform well, demonstrating a high level of diverted cargo retention.”

Total cargo across all terminals reached 2.62 million tons in August, an increase of 117,470 tons, or 4.7 percent.

“The Authority has started off the fiscal year on a strong footing, with positive year-over-year growth in both July and August,” said GPA Board Chairman Jimmy Allgood. “Our volumes have exceeded previously forecasted levels, but are in line with expectations for the balance of FY2017.”

Lynch said he anticipates sustained market strength for GPA, adding that long-term growth will be enhanced by the new initiative announced last week, GPA’s Mid-American Arc. The initiative will focus on the growth of intermodal rail, extending the Port of Savannah’s reach to capture new markets ranging in an arc from Atlanta to Memphis, St. Louis, Chicago and the Ohio Valley.

A key facet of GPA’s Mid-American Arc plan, Lynch explained, is a “game-changing” rail expansion at Garden City Terminal. “We anticipate construction on our new, mega intermodal terminal to begin this March.”

He said additional track will allow the GPA to build unit trains 10,000 feet long on terminal. The ability to move 500 containers behind one locomotive will make more efficient use of track, lowering the per-container cost of transportation for GPA rail partners CSX and Norfolk Southern. “In turn, this is a powerful incentive for them to offer faster, more frequent service to vital inland markets,” Lynch added.

The Port of Savannah International Multi-modal Connector will link Garden City Terminal’s two rail yards, improving efficiency and growing the terminal’s rail lift capacity to approximately 1 million containers each year. The construction project will create the largest on-port rail facility of its kind on the U.S. East Coast – all within the terminal’s current footprint.

“The project is a multi-phased program that will reconfigure the Port of Savannah’s on-dock intermodal container transfer facilities to bring rail switching activities inside the port,” Lynch said.

The multi-modal connector includes five major improvements. The first is construction of two arrival/departure tracks and extension of the track east from Chatham Yard to new arrival/departure tracks. Second, the project includes rebuilding a bridge over new yard tracks and the Pipemakers Canal. “The bridge on SR 25 is the linchpin of the project, allowing us to operate linked rail yards without disturbing neighborhood traffic,” Lynch said.

Running beneath the overpass will be tracks from the Chatham Yard on the south end of the terminal extended as working tracks at Mason Yard, as well as two additional arrival/departure tracks. At the Mason Yard, the project will add two new working tracks, new storage tracks and high-capacity rail mounted cranes.

Schedule milestones to be complete by the fourth quarter of 2020 include:
• SR 25 Overpass
• Rail track connection between Chatham and Mason ICTF
• Mason ICTF expanded to service both CSX and NS
• Rail Mounted Gantry Cranes delivered and commissioned

The $128 million rail project is funded in part by a $44 million federal FASTLANE grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The remaining $84 million will be provided by GPA internal capital funds. The GPA is part of a three-way partnership with Chatham County and the Georgia Department of Transportation that is working together to design and construct the SR 25 Overpass. Chatham County is designing the bridge structure to be placed within GDOT right of way. Funding for the overpass construction will be provided through GPA’s FASTLANE grant.

Also at the authority’s meeting, Lynch updated the board on the progress of the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project. “To date, approximately 25 percent of the SHEP entrance channel dredging has been completed,” he said.

CMA-CGM’s NEMO (North European Mediterranean Oceania) and Hapag Lloyd’s EAX (Europe, Australia Express) combined service will begin calling at DP World London Gateway Port in early January 2017, with CMA CGM’s Rossini as the first to call on the service. The new business will mean DP World London Gateway is handling all of the UK’s direct services to Australia.

In addition to four port calls at cities in Australia, the service will provide the Port with more direct links between Singapore, Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Malta and Italy.

The full NEMO/EAX service loop into the UK from Australia comprises: Fremantle, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Singapore, Port Kelang, Chennai, Colombo, Cochin, Damietta, Malta, Salerno and DP World London Gateway. Outbound of the UK, the NEMO/EAX service loop comprises: Rotterdam, Hamburg, Le Havre, Fos Sur Mer, Genoa, Damietta, Pointe Des Galets and Fremantle.

Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO, DP World, said: “DP World London Gateway is an important part of our international network helping us achieve our vision of leading the future of world trade. It is a prime example of the high level of our service offering to our customers supported by state-of-the-art technologies and innovative trade solutions.

“London Gateway Port, which was built to reflect our flagship Jebel Ali Port and free zone in Dubai, is considered one of UK’s biggest infrastructure projects this century. Its ability to attract more shipping lines and services underlines the valuable role it plays in supporting the growth of the British economy.”

Rob Waterman, UK CEO, CMA CGM, said: “CMA CGM has been constantly innovating to offer its clients new sea, land and logistics solutions in the UK and worldwide. The collaboration with DP World London Gateway Port will give our customers excellent service levels and we are pleased to offer this new port of call.”

Cameron Bowie, UK Managing Director, Hapag Lloyd, said: “DP World London Gateway has good access to road and rail connections along with quick and reliable truck turnaround times, so we are confident this service will be providing operational efficiencies from the start.”

James Leeson, Head of Port Commercial, DP World London Gateway, said: “We’re delighted to add the NEMO/EAX service to our portfolio. With this new service we are now the only UK port to provide direct services to Australia, giving importers and exporters a unique trade advantage. This service also enhances our connection to the Mediterranean, opening up new markets for Port and Logistics Park users at DP World London Gateway.

“This is testament to the excellent service the Port is offering. Unmatched weather reliability, consistent truck turnaround times, high ship-side productivity and superb customer service are all combining to provide customers with a reliable, safe and fast service”