NEW YORK: Eight years ago this month, Sonny Perdue and Mark Sanford, then-governors of Georgia and South Carolina, respectively, stood along the banks of the Savannah River and announced a joint agreement between the two states to build a deepwater container port on the South Carolina side of the river.
Since then, the project has been stalled, mostly due to political infighting over Georgia’s quest to deepen its Savannah harbor.
On Nov. 16, the two states put their differences behind them as the port authorities of Georgia and South Carolina signed a new joint venture agreement that provides the necessary framework for the two states to work toward the development of the Jasper Ocean Terminal.
The new terminal, which will be jointly owned and operated by both port authorities, is expected to provide needed capacity for the two established ports in Savannah and Charleston and help provide a strong Southeast gateway for container shipping.
It’s estimated that terminals at the Georgia Ports Authority and the South Carolina Port Authority will be pushing capacity as early as 2025. The agreement signed will allow the Jasper Joint Project Office, established in 2008 and comprised of representatives of both states, to start the permitting process with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
“We hope to submit our permit application to the Corps in Charleston before Thanksgiving and follow that in December with a letter requesting a channel capacity modification study,” said Doug Marchand, former GPA executive director and member of the JPO board.
Both current governors voiced their support for the new pact.
“This agreement shows significant progress in our commitment to support economic development in our region,” Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal said in a statement. “We must expand port infrastructure in the fast-growing U.S. Southeast to accommodate future demand in manufacturing and retail. Our current investments in logistics infrastructure such as the ports will ensure that our states remain at the forefront of these industries so that we not only grow today, but that we continue to grow for decades to come.”
South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley agreed.
“Whether we’re celebrating another business expansion or record-breaking year for exports, South Carolina’s economy is on the move thanks to a world class ports system that drives our economic development engine,” Haley said. “As South Carolina and Georgia renew this commitment to make the Jasper Ocean Terminal a reality, we have an incredible opportunity to strengthen our ports system, and that’s a great thing, not only for the people of Jasper County, but for the entire state.”
The updated agreement governs the permitting and planning process for the Jasper terminal, including the development of terminal design and supporting infrastructure, plans for financing and execution of the operational decisions required during the permitting process.
A work plan for the 2016 fiscal year, adopted earlier this year by the JPO board, includes geo-technical studies and conceptual work on terminal design by project manager Moffatt & Nichol.
“I am greatly encouraged with the signing of this agreement as the next step of the continuing cooperation and progress between Georgia and South Carolina toward the ultimate goal of building a Jasper Ocean Terminal,” said David J. Posek, chairman of the Jasper Ocean Terminal board of directors. “It establishes the framework between our two states to work together over the next decade.”
