Charleston Harbor gets funds for channel deepening study

By Associated Press

For the AJC

CHARLESTON, S.C. — A $20 million study of deepening the Charleston Harbor shipping channel will continue now that the work has been included on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' work plan and $2.5 million in federal money made available.

Enlarge photo

AJC file A giant container crane loads and unloads shipping containers from a huge freighter at the Charleston harbor.

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"This is the most significant federal contribution made thus far to the Charleston Harbor deepening effort," U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said in a statement, noting the money is important because the Charleston project was not included in President Obama's 2012 budget.

The funding comes as South Carolina lawmakers continue trying undo a state permit allowing the dredging of the Savannah River to benefit Georgia's Port of Savannah.

Late last year, Graham announced that, with federal earmarks a thing of the past, lawmakers had created a new $460 million account in a federal appropriations bill. The new account created with bipartisan support allows ports not included in the budget to get money based on merit.

"We have always known that Charleston will fare well under that standard as harbor deepening is a worthwhile investment," Graham said.

Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr., a Democrat, said he had discussed funding for the study with Obama and he and State Ports Authority President and CEO Jim Newsome met with officials of the Office of Management and Budget.

"I am thankful and pleased that they heard our message about the importance of the Port of Charleston to our region's economy," Riley said.

The corps is conducting the $20 million study as a prelude to a $300 million deepening of the harbor shipping channel to handle the larger container ships that will be calling when the Panama Canal is widened in 2014.

The $2.5 million in federal money is being matched by the South Carolina State Ports Authority.

"This is wonderful news for the 260,000 South Carolinians whose jobs depend on the competiveness of our port," said authority chairman Bill Stern.

The Corps of Engineers is taking public comment through Friday on what should be looked at during the deepening study.