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| Subject: | SOUTH CAROLINA DAILY UPDATE | | Date: | Thursday, August 28, 2008 | | Priority: | Normal | | Notice: | URGENT INFORMATION: NONE
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PORT LIMITS/INFORMATION
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Maximum Depths - (Fresh)
Harbor Entrance - 47.0 ft
Main Channel - 45.0 ft
BERTH LIMITS/INFORMATION:
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Current maximum drafts allowed at berths:
Amerada Hess - Max draft of 38'00 if LOA is less than 650'; Max draft of
36'00 if LOA is 650'00 or greater Kinder Morgan - berth 1 - 40'00 Kinder
Morgan - berth 2 - 40'00 Kinder Morgan - berth 3 - TBA berth 4 - Max
draft 39'00, tide needed for anything deeper than 36'00 BP - TBA Wando
Terminal - Max draft 46'00 - Max BM 187'00 North Charleston Terminal -
Max 42'00 - Max BM 187'00 CST - Max draft 47'00 - Max BM 187'00
Per pilots - restrictions for Tanker movements:
Drafts of 36'00 or less may transit at anytime Drafts of 36'01 to 40'00 -
window: Start in 1 Hour before low water until
2 hours before high water
Drafts of 40'01 to 41'00 - window: start in 2 hours after low water until
2 hours before high water
Drafts of 41'01 to 42'00 - window: start in 3 hours after low water until
3 hours before high water
VESSEL TRAFFIC:
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HESS - SONIA ETD 8/28/08 1800
KINDER MORGAN - NORD FARER ETA 8/29/08 1000
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FEDERAL, STATE & LOCAL FILING REQUIREMENTS:
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96 Hours - advance notice of arrival required by USCG
48 Hours - advance receipt of crew list by Immigration for any vessel
arriving from a foreign port, or arriving coast wise with detained crew.
24 Hours (minimum) - Foreign cargo must have manifest submitted to
Customs & Border Patrol AMS. Bond must be filed for Foreign flag vessels
or U.S. flag arriving with foreign cargo aboard.
24 Hours - advance notice to Pilots
24 Hours - advance fax of crew list and approved visitors required by
Terminal.
72 Hours - post port call, the Port Authority requires bill of lading
figures for all bulk cargo.
Port Security - All persons doing business within Port Authority property
must have security pass from SCPA.
=========================================
NEWS ARTICLES:
Committee asks SPA for privatization study
State Sen. Glenn McConnell said he is accustomed to driving over the
Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge and looking down to see bustling activity at
the Port of Charleston’s Columbus Street terminal.
“Why has it gotten so quiet down there?” McConnell asked State Ports
Authority president and CEO Bernard Groseclose during a legislative
committee meeting earlier this month.
It was a rough morning for Groseclose, as Charleston County lawmakers
grilled him for several hours, mostly about the Port of Charleston’s
recent drop in container business.
McConnell, the state’s top senator, closed with a request that SPA staff
members study the possibility of turning over some or all of the port’s
terminal operations to the private market.
The norm elsewhere
The idea is by no means a new one.
The prevalent business model across the country is for governments to own
terminals that are leased to private companies. Gov. Mark Sanford floated
the idea as Georgia and South Carolina inked a plan to jointly own a
terminal in Jasper County.
But the governor’s efforts failed to gain much traction among lawmakers,
who would have to sign off on any major restructuring of the SPA’s
business model.
Those closely involved in the maritime community wonder what’s driving
McConnell and whether this suggests growing support for reconsidering
South Carolina’s port model.
The past few years have been hard on the SPA. Although it has not
released final import-export numbers for the fiscal year that ended June
30, the authority expects to post a volume drop of about 10% over the
previous year.
Imports are down nationally, the weakening U.S. economy to blame, but the
Port of Charleston’s business decline in the early part of this year
was “more severe than the national average,” Groseclose told the
legislative oversight committee.
Further, after years of ranking as the third-busiest East Coast port and
besting the Port of Savannah, its chief rival, Charleston has slipped
behind both Virginia and Georgia into the No. 4 slot.
“Obviously the port authority is against it, so we have a real political
fight, but the winds are changing just because of pure economics,” said
Laddie Howard, attorney and lobbyist for International Longshoremen’s
Association Local 1422, which has long fought for a privatization
business model and represents about 820 dock workers. Two other local ILA
chapters, 1422A and 1771, represent mechanics and clerks and checkers.
No real competition
Nothing in S.C. law prohibits local companies from buying land and
starting their own terminal operations, and a few small private operators
have. But on any grand scale, the SPA and Georgia Ports Authority’s
market stronghold is too fierce to legitimately compete.
Across the country, the majority of port operations are owned by
government agencies and operated by private companies that rely on labor
supplied by ILA contracts.
At the Port of Charleston, most of the labor is unionized, but about 370
SPA employees who don’t belong to a union handle half of the terminal
gate operations and all container-lifting equipment.
Supporters of the state’s port model say the nonunion option gives South
Carolina a competitive edge, keeping costs down and productivity high.
Pat Barber, owner of Superior Transportation and president of the
Charleston Motor Carriers Association, said he was shocked to learn that
the privatization issue was back on the political table.
“While we may have issues with our volume dropping and losing business to
the Port of Savannah — and to other ports, for that matter — from an
operational standpoint, I don’t think anybody does it better than the
Port of Charleston,” Barber said.
Public vs. private
The SPA’s common-user business segment — through which the ports
authority operates the gate and plans the yard using its own, nonunion
employees — has grown from about a quarter to more than half of the
authority’s business during the past few years, SPA spokesman Byron
Miller said.
The licensed-user segment — where private shipping companies hire a
stevedoring company to manage gate labor — has shrunk accordingly, he
said. That labor is supplied by the ILA.
Those shipping companies operating as licensed users on Port of
Charleston terminals are Maersk Line; Evergreen Shipping Agency; and CKYH
Alliance, composed of COSCO, “K” Line (the European subsidiary of
Japanese shipping and logistics company Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha), Yang Ming
Line and Hanjin Shipping.
Both models use labor supplied by the SPA and ILA. No matter the
customer, SPA workers handle all container-lifting equipment and ILA
workers all other vessel-related services.
Between the 2002-2003 fiscal year and the 2006-2007 fiscal year,
longshoreman hours shrunk by 110,000, according to the S.C. Stevedores
Association.
“I’m concerned about jobs and activity with this port,” McConnell said.
The 370 SPA terminal yard positions that exist today likely would fall
under the purview of the ILA if a private company operated the terminal.
Ken Riley, president of the local ILA chapter, said he hopes the
discussion is not clouded by the issue of unionization. That always
bubbles up in this conversation, but economics should remain central to
the debate, Riley said.
Private companies that operate ports in other states have years of
experience running terminals around the globe, he said, giving them an
expansive network from which to obtain business. The SPA is clearly
struggling, he said, judging from its business decline.
“I believe this is the last frontier and the last opportunity to get it
right and to bring in and attract prime capital to get back in the game,”
Riley said.
The Georgia model
During the meeting, Groseclose defended the SPA operation by noting that
Georgia’s is the same and that the state has been the fastest-growing
port in the nation for several years in a row.
Georgia’s success was attributed to the state’s investment of
strategically placed logistics centers near the Port of Savannah that
have drawn big-box retail stores, and therefore imports. Lawmakers on the
committee wondered whether South Carolina had already missed that boat.
Otherwise, the SPA’s executive team did not offer any formal comment on
McConnell’s statement. Board Chairman David Posek said he is open to
studying all business models. But McConnell’s statements certainly
stirred up a heated conversation in the local maritime community.
Larry Young, vice president and general manager of SSA Cooper, a local
stevedoring company and SSA Marine subsidiary, called the senator’s
remarks “very timely.”
“Public-private partnerships are prevalent in ports all over the world,”
he said. “It ain’t no big deal. Why not try it?”
Young said it at least makes sense to look at a new model with regards to
terminals that are in the planning or construction phases, such as the
Jasper County site and the Port of Charleston terminal going up on the
former Navy Base.
McConnell, too, suggested that private companies could help fund the
state’s infrastructure bill related to terminal expansion. Last year, the
General Assembly signed off on a $182 million taxpayer-funded port access
road project.
The senator said he’s heard rumors that amount will not be enough.
Further, under a private operator, local municipalities could collect
property taxes on land that is exempted under the current model, he said.
The 280-acre terminal in North Charleston is an example.
North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey, who once battled port expansion, did
not return calls seeking comment, though he sat through much of the
meeting that took place in City Hall chambers.
North Charleston Councilman Kurt Taylor said he is not aware of whether
city leaders are pushing the agenda but said he certainly thinks
privatization should be studied for new terminals.
“Maybe the private sector can bring capital for the construction,” Taylor
said. “I don’t know there’s a preordained conclusion, but I applaud the
analysis. Sen. McConnell is forward- thinking.”
=====================================================
FUTURE/ONGOING ISSUES:
08/28 - 1615 - CHARLESTON COUNTY COUNCIL
09/09 - 1145 - CWIT LUNCHEON
09/17 - 0800 - MARITIME ASSOC OF SC BOARD MEETING
10/08 - 1800 - CWIT OYSTER ROAST
10/30 - TBA - PROPELLOR CLUB 75TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY
2013 - PROPOSED TIME FRAME FOR NEW PORT TERMINAL TO BE COMPLETED
CURRENT ISSUES - NONE
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CURRENT HURRICANE ALERT STATUS - 4
TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
800 AM EDT THU AUG 28 2008
FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC...CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO...
THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER IS ISSUING ADVISORIES ON TROPICAL
STORM GUSTAV...LOCATED ABOUT 80 MILES EAST OF KINGSTON JAMAICA...AND
HAS INITIATED ADVISORIES ON TROPICAL DEPRESSION EIGHT...LOCATED
ABOUT 355 MILES EAST-NORTHEAST OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS.
THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IS SPARSE IN ASSOCIATION WITH A LARGE TROPICAL
WAVE LOCATED OVER THE EASTERN ATLANTIC ABOUT 775 MILES WEST OF THE
CAPE VERDE ISLANDS. SOME SLOW DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SYSTEM IS
POSSIBLE DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS AT IT MOVES WESTWARD AT 10
TO 15 MPH.
A WELL-DEFINED TROPICAL WAVE IS LOCATED NEAR THE WEST COAST OF
AFRICA AND IS ABOUT TO EMERGE OVER THE EXTREME TROPICAL EASTERN
ATLANTIC. GRADUAL DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SYSTEM IS POSSIBLE DURING
THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS AS IT MOVES WESTWARD AT ABOUT 15 MPH.
AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS IN THE SOUTHERN BAY OF CAMPECHE IS
ASSOCIATED WITH A TROPICAL WAVE. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT OF THIS
DISTURBANCE APPEARS UNLIKELY DUE TO PROXIMITY TO LAND.
ELSEWHERE...TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED DURING THE
NEXT 48 HOURS.
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SECURITY LEVEL MARSEC 1 - YELLOW - ELEVATED
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Tides for Charleston (Customhouse Wharf) starting with August 28, 2008.
Day High Tide Height Sunrise Moon Time % Moon
/Low Time Feet Sunset Visible
Th 28 Low 12:24 AM 0.5 6:52 AM Rise 4:19 AM 10
28 High 6:21 AM 5.4 7:49 PM Set 6:34 PM
28 Low 12:29 PM -0.2
28 High 6:55 PM 6.5
F 29 Low 1:17 AM 0.2 6:53 AM Rise 5:28 AM 4
29 High 7:18 AM 5.6 7:48 PM Set 7:08 PM
29 Low 1:24 PM -0.3
29 High 7:46 PM 6.5
Sa 30 Low 2:05 AM 0.1 6:54 AM Rise 6:35 AM 1
30 High 8:11 AM 5.9 7:47 PM Set 7:39 PM
30 Low 2:17 PM -0.3
30 High 8:33 PM 6.4
Su 31 Low 2:50 AM 0.0 6:54 AM Rise 7:39 AM 0
31 High 9:00 AM 6.0 7:45 PM Set 8:08 PM
31 Low 3:06 PM -0.1
31 High 9:16 PM 6.3
M 1 Low 3:33 AM 0.0 6:55 AM Rise 8:41 AM 1
1 High 9:47 AM 6.1 7:44 PM Set 8:36 PM
1 Low 3:53 PM 0.1
1 High 9:57 PM 6.0
Tu 2 Low 4:13 AM 0.1 6:55 AM Rise 9:42 AM 4
2 High 10:31 AM 6.0 7:43 PM Set 9:05 PM
2 Low 4:39 PM 0.4
2 High 10:37 PM 5.7
W 3 Low 4:52 AM 0.3 6:56 AM Rise 10:42 AM 10
3 High 11:14 AM 5.9 7:41 PM Set 9:35 PM
3 Low 5:25 PM 0.7
3 High 11:17 PM 5.4
Th 4 Low 5:30 AM 0.6 6:57 AM Rise 11:41 AM 17
4 High 11:57 AM 5.8 7:40 PM Set 10:08 PM
4 Low 6:11 PM 1.0
4 High 11:58 PM 5.1
F 5 Low 6:09 AM 0.8 6:57 AM Rise 12:41 PM 25
5 High 12:42 PM 5.6 7:39 PM Set 10:46 PM
5 Low 6:58 PM 1.3
Sa 6 High 12:42 AM 4.8 6:58 AM Rise 1:38 PM 34
6 Low 6:50 AM 1.1 7:37 PM Set 11:28 PM
6 High 1:31 PM 5.5
6 Low 7:49 PM 1.5
Su 7 High 1:30 AM 4.7 6:59 AM Rise 2:34 PM 43
7 Low 7:37 AM 1.2 7:36 PM
7 High 2:25 PM 5.4
7 Low 8:43 PM 1.6
M 8 High 2:24 AM 4.6 6:59 AM Set 12:16 AM 53
8 Low 8:31 AM 1.3 7:35 PM Rise 3:25 PM
8 High 3:21 PM 5.4
8 Low 9:40 PM 1.6
Tu 9 High 3:21 AM 4.6 7:00 AM Set 1:09 AM 62
9 Low 9:29 AM 1.3 7:33 PM Rise 4:11 PM
9 High 4:18 PM 5.4
9 Low 10:35 PM 1.5
W 10 High 4:18 AM 4.7 7:01 AM Set 2:07 AM 71
10 Low 10:28 AM 1.2 7:32 PM Rise 4:52 PM
10 High 5:11 PM 5.6
10 Low 11:26 PM 1.3
===========================================
OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE SOUTHWEST AND TROPICAL NORTH
ATLANTIC AND CARIBBEAN SEA
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
1130 AM EDT THU AUG 28 2008
OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N
ATLC FROM 07N TO 22N BETWEEN 55W AND 65W
SEAS GIVEN AS SIGNIFICANT WAVE HEIGHT...WHICH IS THE AVERAGE
HEIGHT OF THE HIGHEST 1/3 OF THE WAVES. INDIVIDUAL WAVES MAY
BE MORE THAN TWICE THE SIGNIFICANT WAVE HEIGHT.
AMZ089-282130-
SYNOPSIS FOR CARIBBEAN SEA AND TROPICAL N ATLC FROM 07N TO 22N
BETWEEN 55W AND 65W
1130 AM EDT THU AUG 28 2008
| | Notice posted on Thursday, August 28, 2008 | |
Disclaimer
For quality assurance purposes please note well that while the above information is regularly vetted for accuracy it is not intended to replace the local knowledge or expertise pertaining to port conditions of our marine operations personnel. Port précis should always be verified by contacting the corresponding marine department of a particular location for the most up-to-date information.
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