Container shipping volume has risen by nearly 12 per cent at the United States Port of Charleston in the first three quarters of its current fiscal year.

In the July to March period, container traffic was up by 11.6 per cent to 1.03 million TEU, up from 925,837 TEU in the same period last year. Throughput in March accounted for 120,265 TEU of the total, representing an increase of 5.7 per cent compared to March 2010.

"While the rate of growth is slowing from last year's initial volume recovery, we are still moving in the right direction," said Jim Newsome, president and CEO of the South Carolina State Ports Authority (SCSPA). "New distribution and manufacturing investments in the state and across the region, as well as export strength, will be felt in the coming months."

Vessel calls were also up for the nine-month period, rising 11 per cent to 1,271 ships.

At the ports of Charleston and Georgetown, the volume of breakbulk cargo, including automobiles, project cargo, heavy lift shipments, was up 48 per cent to 754,000 tons in the first three quarters. This comes as the US$21 million investment at Charleston's Columbus Street Terminal increases the port's breakbulk cargo handling capacity.

The SCSPA board said it has approved engineering services related to the relocation, realignment and removal of container cranes at the Columbus Street and Wando Welch terminals. Shaw GBB will perform the services at a cost of $277,518.

The entire project, which is estimated to cost nearly $5 million, is driven by increasing arrivals of ships too large for the Panama Canal. Every week, Charleston receives four post-Panamax ships drawing up to 48 feet, a statement from port authorities said.

The board also approved security, entrance and roadway improvements at Veterans Terminal at a cost of $522,000. The project is expected to be financed mainly by federal port security grant funding, according to the Shipping Gazette.