May 20 - The South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) board had approved construction and quality assurance contracts for surface improvements at its breakbulk and rolling stock facility, Columbus Street Terminal.

Two additional contracts for projects at SCPA's container terminals - including annual maintenance dredging at the North Charleston Terminal and a terminal planning study for the Wando Welch Terminal - were also approved.

April saw 74,915 tonnes of non-containerised cargo handled at the Port of Charleston - 32 percent ahead of plans for the fiscal year.

Meanwhile, SCPA recorded a slight year-on-year decrease in container volumes during April, which ports authority ceo Jim Newsome said was a trend being displayed across most of the US East Coast ports.

www.scspa.com