The ‘Grow America’ in Charleston

Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx yesterday visited the Wando Welch Terminal to discuss the facility’s upcoming wharf improvement project, which received a 10.8 million dollar Transportation Infrastructure Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant in September.

“The future is a choice, and Charleston will seize the opportunities the future holds by preparing its terminals to serve post-Panamax ships,” said US Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “The TIGER grant supports the Port’s critical project to upgrade the Wando terminal structure and purchase new cranes to handle the growing size of ships today.”

As the SCPA’s busiest container terminal, Wando Welch receives approximately 11 post-Panamax vessels weekly. The wharf improvement project includes upgrades to structural support of the wharf and fendering system, as well as modifications to crane rails to accommodate two new super-post-Panamax cranes on order for the terminal.

“Infrastructure investments grow jobs and economies, and they are critically important to our nation,” said Vice President Joe Biden. “The future of commerce remains on the high seas, with cargo arriving on post-Panamax vessels. SC Ports Authority is ahead of the curve, and modernizing the Wando Terminal ensures continued growth of maritime commerce and jobs.”

The visit was part of Secretary Foxx’s GROW AMERICA EXPRESS Bus Tour through the Southeastern United States this week to highlight the importance of transportation infrastructure investments. Vice President Biden, who highlighted his support of the Post-45 Harbor Deepening Project in yesterday’s remarks, previously visited SCPA in September 2013 after the Administration selected the project as a We Can’t Wait initiative.