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Case for Deep Water

Deep water is international trade's new currency. The Port of Charleston, with the deepest water today in the region, can deliver significant benefits for ocean carriers planning where to position their vessels, for shippers developing their supply chains, and for site selectors locating port-dependent projects.

For the ocean carrier, each additional foot of water means the ability to place 100 additional loaded containers on board the vessel, allowing the carrier to truly maximize a ship's carrying capacity. In doing so, a carrier can take full advantage of economies of scale and can book more containers per trip, while fuel and crew costs remain relatively constant.

For the shipper, selecting Charleston's deep-water facilities to move your freight drastically reduces the risk of capacity shortages and vessel delays, providing a more reliable supply chain for both import and export shipments. Currently 78% of all container capacity on order is post-Panamax in size. Shippers would be best served to proactively place their freight in Charleston, anticipating trade route re-configuring to utilize Charleston's deep-water advantage.

Savvy site selectors recognize the trend in international trade and realize that port-dependent projects need to be located closest to facilities able to handle the big ships. That's why some of the biggest names in business have chosen South Carolina to locate or expand their facilities.