The Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal's Expansion Plan Unveiled
Hugh K. Leatherman marine terminal in Charleston is poised to initiate a significant expansion of capacity of the Port. Plans include adding a second berth and further enhancing Charleston’s strong position in short-haul intermodal transports, the Port’s Chief Executive Barbara Melvin said.
Melvin expressed how they expect Port Charleston to nearly triple that 3 million TEU container capacity to more than 10 million TEUs by 2040. While a lofty goal, Melvin continued to talk about their expansions and modernizations set for their three container terminals.
Additionally, the Leatherman terminal reopened shortly before the longshore strike occurred earlier this month. As of now, the terminal has one berth, but the port plans to open bids for a second berth would be projected to double the terminal’s current capacity by 2028. If a third berth is created, that would bring Leatherman’s capacity to 2.4 million TEUs and would be ready by 2033.
Southern California Ports See Record Highs in September, Rail Dwell Time Spikes
Ports in Southern California see record highs in September, but some are also experiencing spikes in rail dwells. The record imports in September had rail container dwell times increasing to an average of 9.25 days, which is up from 8.2 days in August and the highest dwells since 14.2 days in October 2022 – the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA) reports.
While some terminals have been impacted by increased rail dwell times, some haven’t seen as much. COO at the Port of Long Beach, Noel Hacegaba, told the JOC that while they are busy, they are not seeing congestion, and still have room to handle more volume.
The PMSA represents terminal operators and shipping lines along the USWC.
While look ahead to next month, it’s like that imports will soften. November is typically a slower month in the eastbound transpacific lane as holiday merchandise typically arrives at their designated ports by late October. This allows retailers to stock their shelves in preparation for Black Friday sales (the day after Thanksgiving).