SC Biz News Briefs

1946 — 2021

Two cranes arrived at Columbus Street Terminal after a two-month voyage from Shanghai aboard the Zhen Hua 35. (Photo/Teri Errico Griffis)

CHARLESTON Teri Errico Griffis, Charleston Regional Business Journal

Wando terminal receives latest round of updated equipment in 2 cranes

Wando Welch Terminal now has 15 updated cranes after two more arrived Nov. 3 from Shanghai.

The cranes docked at Columbus Street Terminal, where S.C. Ports Authority crew spent a few days dropping sea fasteners and other rigging that hold the booms upright before the gear can be transported under the Ravenel Bridge.

Since redesigns began for the terminal in 2014, four of the former cranes have been renovated and raised. The others will all have been replaced with the arrival of these final two.

“It’s our duty to be an economic engine for the state,” said Ed Stehmeyer, SCPA general manager and projects and design manager. “As a part of that, we’re building the infrastructure needed to make sure we can handle the cargo demands in the future.”

The two new cranes cost nearly $11.5 million each. Coming in at 3.8 million pounds apiece, they have a lift height of 155 feet. The cranes are taller than the previous Wando set, but shorter than the Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal cranes because they were designed years ago when the projected ships were smaller than they are today, Stehmeyer said. HLT cranes clock in at 169 feet.

“We’re obviously not done improving these facilities and whatnot, but like I said, we started this in 2014, and it takes time,” Stehmeyer said. “We’re projecting far out, and we’re trying to make sure we have timely infrastructure for what’s coming ahead.”

For Wando Welch Terminal, that’s getting the final two cranes up and running. Once they arrive at the terminal, one berth will be shut down for a couple days while the parts are offloaded. The SCPA will need another four to five months to fully reassemble the equipment and get everything working.

The SCPA is also looking into a wharf extension as part of a plan to use barges to transport cargo containers at Wando Welch Terminal to HLT.

Wando currently has three parking spots for ships, but plans would extend the wharf 700 feet so that a barge can slip into a fourth spot.

With publications in the Upstate, Columbia and Charleston, as well as a statewide magazine, SC Biz News covers the pulse of business across South Carolina. Above are excerpts from our other publications.

VOLUME 14 NUMBER 16 ■ COLUMBIABUSINESSREPORT.COM

Part of the

Holiday spirit

Vista Lights celebration returns to full format. Page 2 SERVICE

IN THE

Difference makers

Business Report to honor 22 Women of Influence. Page 8 STORM

Experts see reason for optimism in evolving hospitality industry

network NOVEMBER 8-21, 2021 ■ $2.25

Full steam ahead

Infrastructure investments pay off for SC Ports. Page 10

Industry in focus

S.C. trying to increase filmmaking appeal. Page 19

The McCutchen House, which provides fine dining and hands-on traning at the University of South Carolina, opened to the public in September for the first time since 2019. (Photo/Melinda Waldrop)

CHERYL BENNETT

Owner Audacy Preschool

PAGE 4

VOLUME 27 NUMBER 23 ■ CHARLESTONBUSINESS.COM

Part of the network NOVEMBER 15 - 28, 2021 ■ $2.25

Dangerous drones

Company receives a $6.7- million contract to train troops on drone threats. Page 13

China to Chas.

Two 3.8-million-lb. cranes arrive at Wando Welch Terminal from Shanghai. Page 10

Capacity drives flow of furniture to Charleston

By Teri Errico Griffis

tgriffis@scbiznews.com

Years ago, when Micah Mallace walked through a warehouse at holiday time, he watched as container after container arrived filled with hover boards — a popular self-balancing scooter that burst onto the scene that holiday.

Retailers were preparing for an inundation of orders.

“What predicts the next explosive thing, I think, 100% is our buying habits. We’re a consumption-driven economy,” the senior vice president of marketing and sales for the S.C. Ports Authority said.

For much of the pandemic, retail goods have been on the rise as consumers, hesitant of traveling and venturing out of the house, shopped online for a flow of tangible items shipped to their doors in brown, carboard boxes.

But it seems shopping habits also have accelerated the sector of furniture and home furnishings as the fastest-growing commodity in Charleston and the country.

Year-over year, the U.S. has experienced a 50% increase in furniture imports, with

See FURNITURE, Page 7

Officer Thomas Wallace surveys the waters from the Harbor Patrol boat. (Photo/Alexandria Ng)

Paint supply drying up under pandemic push

By Alexandria Ng

ang@scbiznews.com

Home sweet home

A Clemson University alumnus returns to S.C. to become the new SCBIO CEO. Page 11

Triple sale

A real estate company swoops up three King Street properties for $5.1 million. Page 8

CRUISE CONTROL

When the pandemic quarantine period kept millions of people looking at the interior of their homes, renovations around the house that would normally be placed on the back burner finally had their moment in the sun.

More than a year later, renovations remain strong as lingering effects of the pandemic have popularized the work-from-home model, in addition to other reasons as to why Americans may find themselves with more time and funds to allocate to home-office upgrades.

Across the country, paint suppliers are struggling to keep up with increased demand as products fly off the shelves with more customers taking on residential and commercial projects, and South Carolina is not the exception.

Jimmy Brooks is the owner of the 360 Painting Columbia franchise, part of a national brand with 133 locations across 40 states and D.C.

For Brooks, a customer placing an order could mean a slew of follow-up phone calls to other stores to see if they have the specific paint in inventory. CELEBRATING SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS OF BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES.

Greenville, SC | Gainesville, GA | Atlanta, GA | carrolldaniel.com

Savage Craft Ale Works

West Columbia, SC

Photo by: Oswald Design + Creative

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