The South Carolina State Ports Authority (SCSPA) Board of Directors has advanced the development of a 280-acre (113 ha) container terminal at the former Navy Base by awarding a US$55m construction project to a local company.

Another step forward for Charleston’s new container terminal

In February, the SCSPA released a request for bids for the construction of a 5,000 foot (1,524 m) long containment structure built out approximately 850 feet (260 m) from the existing shoreline toward the main shipping channel. The winning bid was from a joint venture of Cape Romain Contractors of Wando, SC along with Massachusetts-based Cashman, which was the lead contractor on the demolition of the former Cooper River bridges.

“The construction of the containment wall is critical to keep the opening of the terminal on schedule for 2014, coinciding with the opening of the expanded Panama Canal,” said David J. Posek, SCSPA chair

When completed the new container terminal will boost the Port of Charleston’s capacity by 50%, or 1.4m teu.