Construction at the Port of Charleston is moving ahead on key projects aimed at boosting rail capacity and expanding the Leatherman Terminal.
At the Leatherman Rail Facility, all six electric rail-mounted gantry cranes (RMGs) have been installed, and commissioning work has begun. When complete in early 2026, the facility will handle 1 million rail lifts per year. Work is also underway on a dedicated one-mile drayage road to separate intermodal traffic from Interstate 26.
“Investments like these ensure our port system meets projected demand and keeps SC Ports competitive for decades,” said SC Ports President and CEO Barbara Melvin.
Phase two of the Leatherman Terminal expansion has started, with test piles installed for a 1,600-foot wharf extension. This will make room for five additional ship-to-shore cranes.
New services are also coming to the port. MSC will launch two weekly transatlantic services, Albatros and Dragon, starting in September. Both will call 15,000 TEU vessels, enhancing connections between the Southeast U.S., North Europe, the Mediterranean, and Asia. The Albatros service will be exclusive to Charleston in the Southeast.
July volumes were strong, with SC Ports handling 213,177 total TEUs. Inland Port Greer and Dillon set rail move records, handling 17,739 and 4,059 moves respectively. Vehicle imports and exports reached 16,628 TEUs, a 53% increase over last July.
