“Our above-market fiscal year growth again this year is testament to strong performance in our major business segments,” said SCPA president and CEO Jim Newsome. “The implementation of our strategic plan is paying off, and the large capital investments committed to port infrastructure by the state of South Carolina and Ports Authority are yielding great dividends. Significant capital investment by major port users has also positively impacted volumes.”   

In June the SCPA handled 149,183 twenty foot equivalent units (TEUs), up 19 percent from 125,257 TEUs handled the same period last year. For the total fiscal year period, July through June, the SCPA moved 1,684,907 TEUs.

On the non-containerized cargo side, the SCPA handled 83,399 pier tons in June for a total of 763,230 pier tons during the fiscal year in Charleston, an increase of 3.6 percent over plan.

Despite depth challenges at the Port of Georgetown, the terminal exceeded projected plans with 553,039 pier tons handled during the fiscal year, an increase of 11.8 percent year over year.

“I’m extremely proud of our strong fiscal year performance,” said Bill Stern, SCPA Board Chairman. “We have a strong Board, talented and visionary CEO and senior staff, and support from a productive maritime community.”

Capital projects planned for FY2015 will support continued growth in the new year. Wando Welch Terminal will receive upgrades to accommodate increases in Post-Panamax vessel calls. Construction at the Navy Base Terminal and harbor deepening remain key strategic priorities for the SCPA over the next several years, as well as the opening of the SC Department of Commerce’s intermodal container transfer facility. The Inland Port in Greer is meeting volume and performance objectives, and will continue to be a vital component of SCPA growth.

“I congratulate the SCPA on their above-plan performance,” said Larry Grooms, SC Senate Transportation Committee Chairman and SC Ports Authority Review and Oversight Committee Chairman. “The SCPA has aggressively captured significant market growth in the Southeast recently, and its success in outpacing competitors is incredibly positive news for South Carolina.” 

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The move comes after a significant restructure for ABP on the Humber, which recently saw the four ports of Hull, Goole, Grimsby, and Immingham brought under one directorate.

Mark, who comes from York, joins the company after a career in logistics for the Royal Mail and then DHL.

“After completing my degree at Leeds University I applied for a number of graduate schemes,” said Mark. “I received a few offers and accepted a job with Royal Mail at their centre in Leeds. It was a great experience and two years after joining the company, I was in charge of 200 people.”

During his time with Royal Mail Mark found himself considering overseas opportunities following a visit to Japan to see his brother, who was working for DHL.

“I was attracted to that lifestyle,” Mark admits. “I was 25 and wanted to see the world; my brother was enjoying what he was doing so when I returned to the UK I applied for a job with DHL in the Middle East. I got the job and moved out to Bahrain.”

As operations and compliance manager Mark was responsible for ensuring the business ran as it should according to its established processes and ISO policies. After three years the role expanded to cover South America, Africa, south east Europe, and the CIS countries.

A vacancy then became available with DHL in Las Vegas that presented Mark with the opportunity to run his own operation, before he made another move to San Francisco to manage a heavily unionised workforce.

Mark worked to improve overall performance and staff engagement at the DHL San Francisco operation and by the time he left it was one of the top 15 best-performing locations in the entire United States.

Tenures in the Caribbean followed before a move to Canada and a career change, when Mark accepted a role with National Oilwell Varco (NOV) as the country’s head of distribution, warehousing and logistics. It was while he was working for NOV that the port manager role with ABP came to his attention.

He said: “I could see that the job offered a fantastic opportunity for me to find out about an entirely new sector and use my skills to help the business enhance its effectiveness, while working for a company that helps move the UK economy.

“When I was offered the post I immediately said yes. I am really looking forward to getting to know my new team and all of those who work at the ports.”

ABP Director Humber John Fitzgerald is looking forward to working with Mark and the rest of the Humber team to drive further growth and improve business performance.

He said: “The addition of Mark to our team here on the Humber will significantly strengthen our operations. His wide-ranging experience in driving continuous improvement to deliver great customer service is key to what we’re trying to achieve here at ABP.

“I’m looking forward to working with him and I’m also looking forward to seeing the positive changes he will undoubtedly bring about.”

Held at PSA Building, the MOU was signed by Mr Tan Puay Hin, Regional CEO Southeast Asia, PSA International and Mr Bruce Poh, ITE Director and CEO, and witnessed by Mr Oh Bee Lock, COO, PSA Singapore Terminals and Mr Aw York Bin, Deputy CE (Industry), ITE. PSA and ITE are working together to create more learning opportunities to generate greater interest and awareness of the container port industry. Students from both the Higher National ITE Certificate (Higher Nitec) in Shipping Operations and Management and the Higher NITEC in Logistics for International Trade will be given internship opportunities at PSA.

Students from the Engineering disciplines will similarly be exposed to an array of port equipment and cutting-edge automation technologies, which PSA is implementing in its new container terminals. PSA will also donate a Prime Mover to ITE College West to provide students pursuing the Nitec in Automotive Technology (Heavy Vehicles) with hands-on learning.

“The port of Singapore is the world’s premier transhipment hub because of our team of highly-trained professionals. We are applying more automation and intelligent technologies to transform our capabilities and enhance productivity. With this new level of collaboration, we will continue to develop the skilled talent PSA needs to grow as a global champion in our industry,” said Mr Tan Puay Hin.

Mr Bruce Poh shared: “We are pleased to deepen our long-standing collaboration with PSA through this MOU. It will provide our students with real workplace learning through internships; networking opportunities and professional guidance; and scholarships. We hope that this will attract and inspire our students to pursue rewarding careers in port operations, logistics or shipping operations.”

PSA-ITE Scholarships will be open to applicants wishing to pursue a career at PSA. To encourage the pursuit of excellence in the study of engineering, shipping and logistics, students who have topped selected modules in the above fields will be awarded book prizes sponsored by PSA.

To enable more students to appreciate the importance of the port to Singapore’s economy, as well as the exciting career opportunities available, PSA will also fund a series of themed projects in various ITE campuses, including PSA-themed classrooms and study corners which will feature port-related motifs and interesting information about the Port of Singapore.