August 18 - Shipping volumes through South Carolina's ports (Port of Charleston and Port of Georgetown) increased significantly in financial year 2011 (ended June 30).

In the breakbulk sector, tonnage showed major gains, increasing 32.3 percent financial year-on-year to 991,705 tonnes in 2011 due to a growth in vehicles, project cargo, heavy lift, bulk and traditional breakbulk cargoes.

An 8.3 percent increase from the 2010 financial year saw container volumes of 1.38 million teu.

The South Carolina State Ports Authority attributed the increased volumes to a number of factors including the extension of the overweight permit limit to 100,000 pounds gross vehicle weight for all shipping containers, expanded on-site and off-terminal trans-loading capabilities for export products to serve China and other major world markets, as well as advancement of the Charleston Harbor Deepening project to serve larger container and breakbulk ships.

The September / October edition of HLPFI will include our first heavy lift ports and terminals feature. For editorial and advertising opportunities, please send an email to ian@heavyliftpfi.com