Ports and Infrastructure

10 Things You Need to Know About the
Jasper Ocean Terminal

After years of political wrangling and litigation, leaders from South Carolina and Georgia agreed the two states would work together to develop a new port on the South Carolina side of the Savannah River in Jasper County.

A bi-state port authority, whose structure would be similar to that of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, will eventually manage the Jasper Ocean Terminal.

Below are a few facts about the new port that could be operational as soon as 2014.

1 Large Ships Welcome. The Jasper Port, which is 10 miles closer to the Atlantic Ocean than the Port of Savannah, will be able to support the larger, post-Panamax ships with minimal dredging. Portions of the Jasper site are already 50 feet deep.

2 Big Revenues. According to an economic study conducted by the Joint Project Office and leading port consultant Moffatt & Nichol, the port will bring $2.3 billion in regional earnings to support capital investment along the South Carolina coast. The study also stated that the port would generate enough money to “fund the capital required to develop the terminal.”

3 Millions of TEUs. Once completed, the Port will be able to handle 6 million TEUs. By comparison, the Port of Savannah handled about 2.6 million TEUs in 2008, and the Port of Charleston handles about 2 million TEUs annually.

4 A Waiting Work Force. Counties surrounding the Jasper Port are positioning themselves and their workforce for the types of businesses the port will bring.

5 Available Real Estate. Jasper County is home to large tracts that could easily serve new logistics and distribution businesses, and the local four-year university and technical college are working to create certificate programs that would funnel employees into those businesses.

6 Business Support. Business leaders from around the country are rallying around the Jasper Port. In April 2008, James Micali, chairman and president of Michelin North America, said it’s critical that South Carolina and Georgia quickly establish a “fact-based business rationale” to support the port. “The sooner the business case can get settled, the sooner we can build it.”

7 Contract Already Awarded. In October, the Joint Project Office awarded Moffatt & Nichol a $5.3 million, two-year contract to complete the initial engineering plans for the Jasper Port.

8 Congress Helping Pave the Way. The Jasper Port site currently houses dredge spoil from the deepening of the Savannah River. Congress has instructed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a study that ultimately would lead the Corps to lift its easement over the Jasper site and find an alternative location for the dredge spoil.

9 Unique Bi-State Commitment. In July 2008, Georgia and South Carolina purchased the more than 1,500-acre port site for $7.59 million. The purchase was a pivotal step in advancing the unprecedented bi-state agreement negotiated by S.C. Governor Mark Sanford and Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue.

10 Moving Ahead. Development of the Port will be led by the Jasper Ocean Terminal Joint Project Office until the bi-state port authority is established. The Joint Project Office includes representatives from South Carolina and Georgia and receives money from the port authorities of both states.