Speaking to a record crowd of nearly 600 local maritime and business leaders gathered for the luncheon, SCPA President and CEO Jim Newsome underscored the long-term significance of Charleston’s role as a port city.

“Charleston has prospered because it is surrounded by water,” Newsome said. “It is very clear today, in the era of global manufacturing and global sourcing, a state with a great port will prosper disproportionately and become a visible player in the global marketplace.”

Newsome highlighted recent achievements in the port’s business, which saw its strongest quarter (July-September) for container volume in four years, while non-container tonnage at both Charleston and Georgetown also has been on the rise. This could not be possible without the re-establishment of the SCPA’s global brand and an aggressive sales posture.

“The port business is not a spectator sport, and we are very active in the market, wherever it is in the world,” he stated. He also cited broad support from leaders such as the state’s Congressional delegation, Governor Haley and her Cabinet, the state Legislature and the area’s mayors as critical to the port’s success.

The most prevalent trend in the industry to impact Charleston, he shared, is the development of very large containerships, defined as being larger than 7,500 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of capacity. The Port of Charleston is already handling ships of this size and larger, with the biggest vessels using the tides to sail in and out fully loaded with up to 48 feet of draft.

For ports, “the ability to grow will be governed by the achievement of untidally restricted deepwater harbors and supporting inland infrastructure to reach markets efficiently,” Newsome said. To support the expected surge of post-Panamax ship traffic in coming years, a post-45-foot deepening project is underway in Charleston. Progress on that project over the past year has been “truly remarkable,” according to Newsome.

“Today, we are part of President Obama’s We Can’t Wait initiative and a top-five harbor in terms of prioritization,” he said. And despite future funding uncertainty for projects on a federal level, Newsome praised the South Carolina Legislature, which “has acted resolutely to put the entire funding of $300 million aside as a clear message that we cannot wait to have our harbor deepened.”

In addition to harbor deepening, Newsome highlighted the progress on the SCPA’s inland port project with Norfolk Southern in Greer, SC, which was initiated with an engineering study in July of this year. Additionally, the SCPA is working collaboratively with CSX on rail initiatives to boost the port’s business.

“It is vital that both Class One railroads serving the East Coast see Charleston as a strategically important part of their expansion,” Newsome stated.

Newsome emphasized the SCPA’s role in generating economic opportunity since the organization’s founding in 1942. “Our port is the major economic development engine for our state, as it always has been in history and will always be in the future. And, economic development is about jobs,” Newsome said. “Growth is the operative word in being a productive component in the job creation engine.”

The success of the port over the foreseeable future, he stated, will be because of collaborative efforts between all facets of the maritime community, whether public or private sector.

“Cooperation is key, and we have no time to waste,” he emphasized. “It is incumbent to be aggressive in courting new business, provide competitive services, and most importantly, work together for the greater good of our port, our industry, and our state.”

Despite the work to be done, Newsome reiterated his optimism for the future, given the many advantages of the Port of Charleston as well as the talent of the local maritime community.

“As I said to you when we first met, and I, more than ever, believe this to be the case today – our best years in this port are ahead of us, not behind us.”

The MV Annette vessel discharged the crane as a semi-assembled unit, which will be assembled by a team of engineers on site.

“It is indeed an exciting moment for the East London terminals as this is a historical moment where East London received its first ever mobile crane. This also reaffirms Transnet’s commitment to increasing economic activity in this region,” says Siya Mhlaluka, TPT’s GM: Eastern Cape Terminals.  

“The investment will address the market demand for cranes in East London to improve efficiencies to our existing customers and will further enable East London to attract non-geared vessels helping customers in this region to compete in the main stream economy. The Skiptainer Coal Project will also benefit from the arrival of the new crane,” added Mhlaluka.

The acquisition forms part of Transnet’s Market Demand strategy (MDS) which has a clear vision of building the economy of the country including the Eastern Cape.

“Boosting efficiencies, creating capacity before demand and delivering world class service remain our priority. We are pleased that the Eastern Cape, especially the East London terminals have been awarded a slice of the R33 billion planned for the next seven years,” says Karl Socikwa, TPT’s Chief Executive.

“The mobile crane has a lifting capacity of 144 tons, a standard load operation of 77 tons and a spreader load operation of 63 tons. The capacity of the crane will boost efficiencies and improve vessel turnaround time significantly,” explained Mhlaluka.

“The excitement has also extended to the employees at the East London terminals, especially those who will be operating the crane. The training of crane operators commenced a month prior to the arrival of the crane to ensure operational readiness,” says Mhlaluka.

He added: “Transnet employees said they would double their efforts to make Transnet Port Terminals an operator of choice by being performance driven and by meeting or exceeding customer expectations.”

In addition to the actions required by the Captain of the Port Hurricane and Severe Weather Plan, additional requirements are as follows:
a. Commercial deep draft vessels greater than 500 gross tons are not authorised to remain in port alongside a pier after 1800hrs on Sunday, October 28, 2012.
b. All vessels must be out of Bay Ridge, Stapleton, and Gravesend Bay Anchorage Grounds by 18.00hrs on Sunday, October 28, 2012.
c. Only one barge per commercial mooring buoy, with a tug in the vicinity, is authorised after 1800hrs on Sunday, October 28, 2012.
d. After the hurricane has passed, all facilities must fill out a post-storm assessment survey.  Response is
mandatory. Vessels will not be allowed to dock at facilities until this survey is complete.

All vessels and facilities should review and comply with the Captain of the Port New York Hurricane and Severe Weather Plan. Vessels and facilities that are unable to meet the requirements of the Hurricane and Severe Weather Plan or this Coast Guard Advisory Notice should contact Sector New York

Vessels bound for the Port of New York and New Jersey are advised to seek an alternate destination.

Due to the expected severe weather conditions, all MTA subway, bus, and commuter rails will be suspended citywide as of Sunday, 28 October at 19.00pm.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for: Cape Fear to Duck North Carolina; Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds; and Bermuda.

In addition, hurricane-force winds are expected along portions of the coast between Chincoteague Virginia and Chatham Massachusetts. This includes the middle and upper Chesapeake Bay, Delaware Bay and the coasts of the Northern Delmarva Peninsula, New Jersey, the New York City area, Long Island, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Tropical storm force winds are expected north of Chatham to Merrimack River Massachusetts, the lower Chesapeake Bay and south of Chincoteague to Duck North Carolina, the Northern Endpoint of the tropical storm warning…

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles (280km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 520 miles (835 km). Tropical storm conditions are already occurring over coastal North Carolina and southeastern Virginia. Gale force winds are expected to arrive along portions of the mid-Atlantic coast later today and reach Long Island and southern New England by Monday morning.

The first was the delivery of the business unit’s 4000th lift truck, a reach stacker for laden container handling ordered by Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA). GPHA’s top executives, including Ghana´s Technical Director of the Ministry of Transport, Konecranes representatives and employees celebrated this delivery along with the second milestone, the inauguration of a major office extension. “We are delighted to receive this reach stacker and to be part of a landmark moment for Konecranes,” said Richard Anamoo, Director General of Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA). “We will be able to meet the increasing demand from our customers using eco-efficient, high-performance Konecranes reach stackers and container cranes, ensuring that GPHA will be able to move forward through sustainable growth.”

The landmark Konecranes reach stacker has a rated payload capacity of 45 tons, stacking 5 high. It is stacked with advanced technology features — the Konecranes EcoDrive module, for example, which as its name implies can significantly reduce fuel consumption. It is also equipped with the TRUCONNECT®Remote Monitoring and Reporting service, which monitors the real-time usage of the truck through a remote connection and provides reports on how the truck is being driven. “GPHA has become one of the leading port operators in West Africa thanks to its strong leadership, unrivaled customer service, and commitment to technology and innovation,” says Lars Fredin, Konecranes Vice-President and Head of Business Unit Lift Trucks. “We are delighted to be a long-term partner to GPHA and a part of their past and future growth.”

The second milestone that Konecranes celebrated on 26th October was the inauguration of a major office extension of approximately 1000 m2. “2009 was a tough year for the entire lift truck industry. We were also affected by the general economic situation, of course, although we managed better than many of our competitors thanks to the global reach of our business. 2012 has been better and our business continues to develop positively. With this office extension we are expanding and equipping ourselves for the future,” says Lars Fredin.