Charleston has used several efficiency measures to slash the number of anchored vessels from 27 to five in two months — the lowest count of any major port along the US East Coast.

The Port of Charleston is not accepting export loads in the Wando Welch Terminal during the morning on Thursday and Friday as it struggles with a shortage of terminal space and faces a backlog of more than 30 vessels anchored outside its harbor

Port officials are warning that the queue of 15 container ships waiting to berth at Charleston likely will not be cleared for up to six weeks due to a backlog of more than 25,000 containers at the terminal.

Vessels have backed up outside the Port of Charleston for the second time in as many months, but port officials believe they can resolve the issue within two weeks if importers retrieve their containers faster.

The Port of Charleston has almost cleared the backlog of vessels anchored off the harbor through a coordinated effort with labor, truckers, and ocean carriers to increase the flow of boxes through the Wando Welch Terminal.

The Port of Charleston is concerned about the cost of chassis for its new pool now due to launch in 2023, while negotiations to secure an agreeable price took longer than expected.

Three ocean carriers have decided to temporarily switch US calls to Charleston instead of Savannah as more than 20 vessels are anchored off the Georgia port.

The Port of Charleston has restored pre-COVID-19 Saturday hours to handle volumes affected by double-digit import growth and a labor lawsuit involving the Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal.

The South Carolina Ports Authority will expand Inland Port Greer, using a federal grant to add more space to the container yard, the chassis yard, and build new facilities for terminal operations.

Volume in Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia is rising quickly, including an all-time container record in Savannah and Norfolk in November, due to continuing demand for furniture and appliances.

A&R Logistics has opened a new resin packaging plant in South Carolina two months ahead of schedule, causing port officials to be bullish about resin exports in 2021.

Michelin will use Inland Port Greer for all imports and exports in South Carolina, as beneficial cargo owners (BCOs) become more comfortable using inland ports in the Southeast.

First Solar has opened a distribution center in South Carolina to handle solar panels, a growth industry in which US imports doubled last year.

The South Carolina Ports Authority expects spring and summer import volumes to be quite depressed due to blank sailings related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The Port of Charleston will have a sharp decline in roll-on, roll-off volume next month because automakers BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo have shut plants through mid-April to slow the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The USDOT has appropriated more than $50 million for two berth improvement projects in Charleston and Savannah, while President Donald Trump has proposed funds in his fiscal 2021 budget to complete dredging the Savannah River inner harbor.

Although there is tariff uncertainty around exports, August was a strong month in Savannah and Charleston and the two ports are investing in future growth.