b'24American Journal ofTransportation ajot.comNorth Carolinas Port ofCAROLINA PORTS 2022Wilmington expanding capabilities as efficient U.S. Southeast gatewayBy Paul Scott Abbott, AJOTWith extensive public andthe Port of Wilmington, as well private investments deliveringas NC Ports bulk- and break-enhancedon-andnear-portbulk-focusedPortofMore-infrastructure, the North Caro- head City, have surpassed the linaStatePortsAuthorityis$300 million mark, according building upon already enviableto Clark, who is now sharing efficiencies, including further- his expertise on a broad scale ing the attractiveness of its Portasarecentappointeetothe ofWilmingtonasanuncon- U.S. Department of Transpor-gested gateway to U.S. South- tationsMaritimeTransporta- With its first phase opened in April 2021, SC Ports Leatherman Terminal is the first new U.S. greenfield marine east markets and beyond. tion System National Advisoryterminal since 2019.(Photo credit: Walter Lagrenne, South Carolina Ports Authority)South Carolinas Port of Charleston bolstering facilities while fluidly handling record volumes By Paul Scott Abbott, AJOTWith $2 billion in broad- the Port of Charleston todaytion as the eighth-busiest U.S. ranging infrastructure invest- and for decades to come. containerport.mentsoverthepastsixInitsfiscalyearendedMoreimportantly,par-yearsandnumerousfurtherJune 30, the Port of Charlestonticularly for our tapping into enhancements under way, theenjoyed 12 percent year-over- retail as well as continuing to South Carolina Ports Author- yeargrowthincontainerizedsupport our advanced manu-ityisfluidlymovingrecordcargovolume,reaching2.85facturing base, is the fact we cargo volumes while puttingmillion 20-foot-equivalent units,(BOLSTERINGcontinued inplacefacilitiestoaccom- or TEUs, solidifying its posi- on page 26)modatefuturegrowthin megacontainership activity.Along a 42-foot-deep channel, 26 miles from open Atlantic waters, NorthJustwhenyoumight Carolinas Port of Wilmington is providing a congestion-free gateway to thethink $2 billion worth of proj-U.S. Southeast and beyond, with ability to simultaneously accommodateects was enough, here were multiple ultralage containerships. comingbackwithmore, The last couple of yearsCommittee, or MTSNAC. BarbaraMelvin,president have certainly brought a numberThelatestfundingboostandchiefexecutiveofficer of challenges for supply chains,for NC Ports comes with theoftheSouthCarolinaPorts but weve made a lot of prog- AugustannouncementofanAuthority, told AJOT.ress, both on port and off, and$18 million USDOT Rebuild- Melvin,whoassumed we anticipate a bright future,ingAmericanInfrastructuretheSCPortshelminJuly, basedontheinvestmentswith Sustainability and Equity,capping nearly 25 years with beingmadeandcomingor RAISE, grant for creationtheauthority,includingthe online, Brian E. Clark, exec- of a Port of Wilmington inter- pastfouraschiefoperating utivedirectorofNCPorts,modal rail facilitythat,overofficer,isputtinghervast told AJOT. the next decade, should divertportoperationalexperienceBarbara Melvin is applying almost a quarter-century of port operations A former APM Terminals(EXPANDINGcontinuedtospot-onuseinensuringexpertise to her new role as president and chief executive officer of the executive who joined the NCon page 26) smoothcargoflowsthroughSouth Carolina Ports Authority.Ports team as chief operating officer in mid-2017 and was elevatedtoexecutivedirec-torinJanuary2021,Clark isnostrangertoadvancing marine terminal efficiencies, but achievements at the Port of Wilmington are likely the highlight of an industry career spanning three decades.Public investments alone at Brian E. Clark, executive director of the North Carolina State Ports Authority, has plenty of reason to smile about the advancement of the Port of Wilmington as an efficient alternative for shippers.'