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Just received this from the SC Port Authority…enjoy.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 1, 2013

 

 

Greer, SC – Progress on a new inland port in Greer, South Carolina took a significant step forward today, as more than 250 port users, stakeholders, community leaders and elected officials came together to break ground at the site.

 

The South Carolina Inland Port (SCIP) will extend the reach of the South Carolina Ports Authority’s (SCPA) marine facilities 212 miles to the interior. Opening this September, the facility will improve the efficiency of international freight movements between the Port of Charleston and companies across the Southeast region while spurring additional economic investment in the area.

 

“This is a momentous day for the South Carolina Ports Authority and the entire state,” said Jim Newsome, president and CEO of the SCPA. “In just six months from now, this site will be a fully operating container yard, an extension of the port within the thriving cargo base of the Upstate and the I-85 corridor.”

 

The Greer container terminal will be linked to the Port of Charleston by the Norfolk Southern main rail line that provides overnight service between Charleston and the Upstate. The site is positioned along the I-85 corridor – the fastest-growing part of the region – between the key markets of Charlotte and Atlanta, and it will provide market access to more than 94 million consumers within a one-day drive. Already, the Upstate region is home to the largest concentration of port users in South Carolina.

 

“Norfolk Southern is very excited to work with the South Carolina Ports Authority on the South Carolina Inland Port,” said Mike McClellan, vice president of intermodal and automotive marketing for Norfolk Southern. “This project leverages the best capabilities of NS and the SCPA and will provide new, cost-effective, rail-based intermodal solutions that should benefit all of the shippers in the Upstate South Carolina region.”

 

The project uniquely involves the convergence of four modes of transportation at one site, with the port, rail, truck and the nearby GSP International Airport all handling international commerce for the region’s shippers. By utilizing rail, importers and exporters can maximize tonnage moved per gallon of fuel, providing both environmental benefits and cost savings. Shippers in the region also will benefit from proximate access to empty containers for loading export goods and the availability of intermodal chassis on site.

 

“We have been impressed at the level of interest in this project from both current and

prospective customers of the port,” Newsome said. “As the Southeast continues to lead the nation in exporting, and as e-commerce distribution grows, the inland port will be positioned to speed the flow of commerce and serve as a catalyst for investment in the surrounding area.”

 

Officials at the groundbreaking lauded the project and highlighted the importance of inland infrastructure as a complement to the Port of Charleston’s waterside capabilities, including the deepest harbor in the Southeast region.

 

“Our ports have driven economic investment across this great state, and the inland port will play a crucial role in helping companies here move their goods more efficiently than ever before,” said South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley. “It is critical that we invest in the infrastructure that supports our ports’ success in order to continue bringing good jobs to South Carolina.”

 

The inland port is one aspect of the SCPA’s 10-year, $1.3-billion capital plan that includes major investments in both new and existing facilities, equipment and information systems. Additionally, the state of South Carolina is investing nearly $700 in port-related infrastructure, including $300 to fund the construction of Charleston’s post-45 Harbor Deepening Project, slated for completion by 2019.

 

“This is a major economic announcement for South Carolina as about one in every five jobs is tied – directly or indirectly – to the Port of Charleston,” said U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham. “This new Inland Port will dramatically expand the economic ties between the Upstate and Lowcountry, creating greater efficiencies for Upstate businesses getting their goods to market. I commend Jim Newsome and the State Ports Authority for their vision, as this investment will help grow our economy and create jobs.”

 

“Today’s groundbreaking at the South Carolina Inland Port in Greer is another strong step forward for our state’s economy,” said U.S. Senator Tim Scott. “Strengthening the connection between the Upstate and the Lowcountry will provide a vital engine as we strive to compete and succeed in the global economy. I have no doubt the hardworking folks in the Upstate will make South Carolina proud by helping build a better economic future for all of us.”

 

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood said in a statement that the inland port is an example of how public-private partnerships can improve freight transportation nationwide.

 

“The South Carolina Inland Port is a perfect example of the kind of public-private partnership President Obama called for to improve our nation’s infrastructure in his State of the Union address this month,” said Secretary LaHood. “As the President said, our country’s businesses need modern ports to move our goods, and the Department of Transportation remains committed to making our ports the best in the world.”

 

The paved area of the SCIP will be approximately 40 acres, and the SCPA has contracted with CenterPoint Properties to develop the site. CenterPoint developed the largest master-planned inland port in North America, which is located in Joliet, Illinois.

 

“CenterPoint is pleased to partner with the South Carolina Ports Authority and the state to build an inland intermodal terminal for port container traffic, the first of its kind in the nation,” said Paul Fisher, president and CEO of Oak Brook, Illinois-based CenterPoint Properties. “South Carolina has been a leader in attracting business. This is another innovative step.”

 

The SCIP will consist of two 2,600-foot working tracks tying to Norfolk Sothern’s main line as well as 5,200 feet of storage tracks with room for future expansions. The estimated cost of the project is approximately $35 million.

 

The SCPA will dismantle and relocate three rubber-tired gantry cranes (RTGs) from Charleston to the site for stacking containers in the yard, which will have 552 total slots for shipping containers. While the initial capacity of the facility is around 40,000 containers annually, the facility could handle as many as 100,000 boxes in five years.

 

 

Reaction from South Carolina Leaders:

 

“Projects like this inland port will create jobs both now and well into the future. The port is vital to South Carolina’s economy, and I support this effort which I hope will move in tandem with the private inland port in Santee to grow the capacity of our import and export business in our state and throughout the Southeast.”

– U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn

 

“The Port of Charleston is the single largest driver of our state’s economy.  The inland port will not only support the port and our local businesses, but will be a catalyst for further expansion and development in the area.  I applaud what the Ports Authority is doing for our state and encourage them to continue investing in the people of South Carolina.”

– U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy

 

“Deepening Charleston harbor is one big piece of the puzzle that maximizes the potential of our state’s primary economic engine. Another major piece is the South Carolina State Ports Authority’s current inland port project in Greer, SC, which will provide many advantages to both the Upstate and South Carolina as a whole. With the Upstate serving as the state’s primary manufacturing hub, the location of the inland port will enable companies to move their goods with greater efficiency to a global consumer base.”

– S.C. Sen. Larry Grooms, Chairman, Review and Oversight Commission on the South Carolina Ports Authority and Senate Transportation Committee

 

“Today’s groundbreaking marks a significant gain in inland infrastructure, which will enhance the South Carolina Ports Authority’s current capabilities to move goods more efficiently in and out of our harbors.”

– S.C. Rep. Jim Merrill, Vice Chairman, Review and Oversight Commission on the South Carolina Ports Authority

 

“Sixty percent of in-state port business either originates from or is destined to the Upstate. I am happy that the inland port will provide greater access and efficiency for these imports and exports. This project will help upstate businesses grow and provide job opportunities in the area.”

– Sen. Shane Martin, Chairman, Spartanburg County Legislative Delegation

 

“I am pleased with today’s groundbreaking on such an important project for the Upstate. Providing increased capacity will create industry growth and provide job opportunities that will be beneficial to the region and the state.”

– Sen. Mike Fair, Chairman, Greenville County Legislative Delegation

 

“The inland port is a unique infrastructure and logistical project that presents strategic and sustainable importing/exporting opportunities for the manufacturing community. South Carolina, like much of the United States, is experiencing a manufacturing renaissance that could lead to significant capital investments and new jobs. Projects like the inland port are the types of investments we have to make to be competitive in a fast paced international economy that demands efficient supply-chain networks. The growth the inland port can help generate in the future is tremendous.”

– Lewis Gossett, President and CEO, South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance

 

“Today’s groundbreaking is another step forward in ensuring the Port of Charleston is the premier port of call on the East Coast. The positive ripple effects on businesses as a result of the inland port will drive economic growth around the Palmetto State. The daily rail service to the Port of Charleston will also begin to address some of the capacity issues on our state’s roadways and ensure South Carolina remains competitive.”

– Otis Rawl, President and CEO, South Carolina Chamber of Commerce

 

“The Maritime Association of South Carolina (MASC) has long recognized the mutually beneficial relationship between Upstate businesses and the Port of Charleston. We congratulate the SC Ports Authority for their further development of this relationship through the opening of the Inland Port. MASC stands ready to help make this endeavor a success and will continue to promote and foster the viability of the port as the economic driver of the State.”

– Pam Zaresk, President, Maritime Association of South Carolina

 

“For those of us who reside in the Upstate and know how vital the Port is to our business and industry, the groundbreaking today signals a new era for effective distribution through this intermodal hub.  I look forward to seeing how the Inland site strengthens our Port’s competitiveness and improves logistics for South Carolina companies.”
– Mark Cothran, Vice President of Public Policy, Upstate Chambers Coalition

The South Carolina Ports Authority, established by the state’s General Assembly in 1942, owns and operates public seaport facilities in Charleston and Georgetown, handling international commerce valued at more than $63 billion annually while receiving no direct taxpayer subsidy. An economic development engine for the state, port operations facilitate 260,800 jobs across South Carolina and nearly $45 billion in economic activity each year. For more information, visit

www.scspa.com.

 

For more information:

Allison Skipper, APR

Manager, Public Relations

South Carolina Ports Authority

843-577-8121

www.scspa.com