South Carolina Ports Authority

What South Carolina Ports Authority does

South Carolina Ports Authority (SC Ports) is a state government agency of South Carolina, founded in 1942 and headquartered in Mt. Pleasant, that owns and operates the state's port system handling $63 billion in annual commerce. SC Ports runs three container marine terminals (Wando Welch, Hugh K. Leatherman, and North Charleston) with combined capacity exceeding 5 million TEUs, plus the Columbus Street Terminal for breakbulk and Ro-Ro operations, Veterans Terminal for project cargo, the downtown Passenger Terminal for cruise operations, and two rail-served inland ports (Greer on I-85 and Dillon on I-95). The authority also markets the SMART Pool chassis program, a port-owned and operated equipment fleet with GPS tracking, and digital customer platforms GO!Port and ORION that provide container visibility, gate management, booking, and billing functions for motor carriers, ocean carriers, BCOs, NVOCCs, and 3PLs.

The company's core technology stack centers on port terminal operating systems and an intermodal logistics platform. Notable proprietary features include the SMART Pool chassis fleet with integrated GPS tracking and billing, GO!Port for motor carrier and cargo visibility workflows, ORION for steamship line interchange and load order management, and integrations with Portchain for berthing schedule data and CSX/Norfolk Southern rail systems via the RapidRail dray program. SC Ports holds C-TPAT certification since January 2004, supporting supply chain security compliance. The harbor's 52-foot depth (deepest on the U.S. East Coast) and 54.2-foot entrance channel enable vessels up to 20,000 TEU to transit and berth any tide.

SC Ports generates revenue through transaction-based fees on container handling, storage, demurrage, dockage, wharfage, pilotage, and tug services under publicly disclosed tariff schedules. Additional streams include usage-based chassis rental fees (SMART Pool rates of $24-$55 per day depending on chassis type, with rates scheduled to increase in July 2026), breakbulk and Ro-Ro handling fees, and cruise terminal berthing revenue. Customers include global ocean carriers (MSC, Maersk, CMA CGM, OOCL, Hapag-Lloyd, ONE, ZIM, Evergreen, Yang Ming) with 29 weekly services, automotive manufacturers (BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Honda, Scout Motors), major retailers (Walmart, Home Depot), manufacturing firms (GE, Bosch, Michelin), and a network of 150+ trucking firms, with sales conducted through dedicated carrier sales, marketing, customer service teams, and self-service digital portals.

Name

South Carolina Ports Authority

Legal name

South Carolina Ports Authority

Website

https://scspa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1942

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

South Carolina Ports Authority is a state government agency operating marine container terminals, breakbulk and Ro-Ro facilities, two inland ports, and a cruise terminal, serving ocean carriers, automotive manufacturers, retailers, and shippers across the Southeast U.S. and global trade lanes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Port Operations and Intermodal Logistics

NAICS

Port and Harbor Operations (488310), Marine Cargo Handling (488320), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Maritime & Port Authorities (Public Ports, Harbors, Ferries Terminals) (BPAIALAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Port Equipment Operations (Crane Operators, RTG/RMG, Straddle Carrier Operations) (TLAHALAE), Marine Terminals & Cargo Handling Infrastructure (RoRo, Bulk, Container) (IMAFAJAF), Steel & Metals Terminals (Coils, Plates, Rebar, Pipes) (TLAHADAC), Ferry Terminal, Port & Passenger Handling Services (THAEAGAJ)

Keywords

• Container terminal operations
• Intermodal logistics services
• Breakbulk cargo handling
• Cruise terminal operations
• Port chassis management

Headquarters

HQ city

Mt Pleasant

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Container Terminal Operations: Revenue from container handling, crane operations, and terminal services at Wando Welch, Leatherman, and North Charleston terminals. Charges based on container moves, storage, demurrage, and gate operations.
2. Breakbulk and Ro-Ro Operations: Revenue from handling roll-on/roll-off vehicles and breakbulk cargo including heavy lift operations at Columbus Street Terminal, storage, and specialized handling services.
3. Cruise Terminal Operations: Revenue from cruise ship berthing, passenger terminal services, and port-of-call operations at the Passenger Terminal in Charleston.
4. SMART Pool™ Chassis Program: Daily rental fees for chassis fleet including 20SL, 40GN, 40/45EX, and tri-axle combinations. Revenue from chassis interchange, damage waiver program fees, and maintenance services.
5. Port Tariffs and Fees: Comprehensive tariff schedule covering dockage, wharfage, pilotage, tug services, storage, demurrage, and various port service fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

South Carolina Ports Authority owns and operates seaport facilities handling $63 billion in annual commerce. Core offerings include container terminal operations at Wando Welch (2.4M TEU capacity), Hugh K. Leatherman, and North Charleston Terminals, breakbulk and Ro-Ro cargo handling at Columbus Street and Veterans Terminals, rail-served inland ports at Greer and Dillon, cruise terminal services at the downtown Charleston Passenger Terminal, and the port-owned SMART Pool™ chassis fleet managed through the GO!Chassis™ system.

Product overview

South Carolina Ports Authority operates a multi-facility port system comprising three container terminals in Charleston (Wando Welch, Hugh K. Leatherman, North Charleston), Columbus Street Terminal for breakbulk and Ro-Ro operations, Union Pier cruise terminal, and two inland ports (Greer and Dillon). The core digital product portfolio centers on GO!Port and ORION customer-facing platforms for cargo management and terminal operations, supplemented by the SMART Pool™ chassis program with its GO!CHASSIS™ management system for equipment tracking and billing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SMART Pool™: Port-owned chassis fleet program offering modern chassis at competitive daily rates with GPS tracking, billing, and maintenance services.
• GO!Port
• ORION
• Charleston Cold Chain

Products and services

• Wando Welch Terminal Container Services Largest container terminal at Port of Charleston handling approximately 80% of port's annual container volume, with 2.4 million TEU capacity, 1,274 reefer slots, 15 ship-to-shore cranes, and designed to handle mega container ships up to 20,000 TEU. Serves ocean carriers, BCOs, motor carriers, and shippers.
• Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal Container Services State-of-the-art container terminal with 700,000 TEU Phase 1 capacity (expandable to 2.4 million TEUs), 286 total acres, 1,400-foot berth, and 5 ship-to-shore cranes. Opened Phase 1 in 2021 to add capacity to the U.S. East Coast port market.
• North Charleston Terminal Container Services Container terminal handling about 22% of the port's total container volume, specializing in vessels 8,000 TEU and smaller. 201 acres, 500,000 TEU capacity, 538 reefer slots.
• Columbus Street Terminal Breakbulk and Ro-Ro Services Premier combination breakbulk and Ro-Ro cargo terminal covering 155 acres with 3,500 feet of berth length and unlimited air draft. Handles heavy lift up to 500 tons, with on-dock rail-served warehouses serving automakers, military, and project cargo shippers.
• Veterans Terminal Bulk and Project Cargo Services Dedicated bulk, breakbulk, and project cargo facility with 11 acres of open storage, 1,250-foot double-sided pier, and project depth of 35 feet serving specialized industrial shippers.
• Inland Port Greer Rail Intermodal Services Rail-served inland port on I-85, 212 miles inland from Charleston, halfway between Atlanta and Charlotte. 91 acres with 24/7 gates, Norfolk Southern rail service, and overnight express shuttle six days per week serving Upstate South Carolina manufacturers.
• Inland Port Dillon Rail Intermodal Services Rail-served inland port near I-95, part of a 3,400-acre industrial site, with 40 acres, CSX rail service, and overnight service to/from Charleston serving the Pee Dee region near the SC/North Carolina border.
• Charleston Passenger Cruise Terminal Services Cruise terminal in downtown Charleston's historic district offering an 18,000 sf climate-controlled terminal, approximately 1,100 ft cruise berth, and no air draft restrictions. Provides homeport and port-of-call services for Virgin Voyages, Carnival, Norwegian Cruise Line, and other operators.
• SMART Pool™ Chassis Program Port-owned and operated chassis fleet with GPS tracking, state-of-the-art systems for tracking, billing, and maintenance, and on-site depots at each terminal. Offers daily rental of 20SL, 40GN, 40/45EX, and tri-axle chassis combinations with integrated terminal operating system billing.
• GO!Port Cargo Visibility Platform Web-based customer portal providing motor carriers with pre-advise gate codes, EIR reprints, booking verification, terminal empty return information, notifications, and user management. Provides steamship lines, BCOs, NVOCCs, and 3PLs with real-time cargo status, inventory reports, and booking information across container terminal operations.
• ORION Terminal Operations System Terminal operating system for steamship lines to create and update interchanges (EIRs), manage bookings and load orders, maintain inventory, and authorize cargo release. Customs brokers use ORION to create load orders for breakbulk and non-containerized cargo.
• GO!Chassis™ Management System Chassis management system integrated with terminal operating systems and stakeholder-provided data, allowing customers to review chassis usage, billing, and pay or dispute invoices for the SMART Pool™ program.
• Charleston Cold Chain Refrigerated Cargo Services Refrigerated and frozen food logistics ecosystem with freezer operations and 2,274 combined reefer plug slots (Wando Welch 1,274, North Charleston 540, Leatherman 460) for importers and exporters of refrigerated and frozen products.

Quantifiable outcome

• 36 moves per hour per crane cross the port
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• South Carolina Department of AgriculturecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 February 2026Provided $600,000 Growing Agribusiness Fund grant to Harbor Logistics for soybean export facility in Goose Creek. Partnership to develop agricultural export outlets.
• Harbor LogisticsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 20 February 2026Broke ground on soybean transload facility in Goose Creek, SC. Funded in part by SC Department of Agriculture grant. Creates connectivity between local soybean farmers and global export markets.
• Norfolk SoutherncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Rail connectivity partnership providing overnight express intermodal service between Inland Port Greer and Port of Charleston. Norfolk Southern CEO Mark George hosted at SC Ports for operational discussions. Six days per week service.
• Union Pacific RailroadcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Rail connectivity partnership discussed during senior leadership visit to SC Ports. Supports broader rail network connectivity for cargo movement.
• Palmetto RailwayscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026South Carolina state rail operator. CEO Patrick McCrory participated in leadership visit to SC Ports. Supports state rail infrastructure.
• Depot Connect International (DCI)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 14 October 2025Opened 20-acre facility in Summerville near Port of Charleston offering tank wash, maintenance, parts, inspections, and storage services. Supports regional logistics operations.
• Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 September 2025Launched two new weekly transatlantic services at Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal, positioning port for expected growth from Southeast Asia and Indian Subcontinent.
• U.S. Customs and Border ProtectioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004C-TPAT (Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism) certified member since January 2004. Enhances supply chain security throughout port operations.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Port Houston: Operates the largest container port on the US Gulf Coast, with extensive petchem and project cargo capability. Competes for breakbulk, project cargo, and select container volumes that originate from or are destined for Southeastern US shippers.
• Port Authority of New York and New Jersey: The largest US East Coast container port complex, providing direct competition for transatlantic and Asia services as well as intermodal volumes from the Northeast. SCPA regularly competes as a first-call or alternate port-of-call option to NY/NJ vessel schedules.
• Port of Los Angeles: The largest US container port by volume and a major competitor in the transpacific container trade lane that also calls SCPA. Both handle Asia-USEC all-water and Panama Canal services from the same set of alliance ocean carriers.

Direct peers

• Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT): Operates JAXPORT container, Ro-Ro, and bulk terminals in Northeast Florida. Competes with SCPA for Southeast automotive, retail, and container traffic, including Ro-Ro exports and SS Atlantic services serving Asia and Europe.
• Port of Virginia (Virginia Port Authority): Operates the Port of Virginia including Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and the Richmond inland port, targeting the same Southeast and Mid-Atlantic container market as SCPA. Both compete for first-in-calls from Asia, automotive Ro-Ro, and BCO volume via competing rail networks.
• Maryland Port Administration (Port of Baltimore): Operates the Port of Baltimore, a major Mid-Atlantic container, Ro-Ro, and bulk facility with strong automotive and farm equipment Ro-Ro volumes. Competes for ocean carrier service calls and BCO volumes in the East Coast hub-and-spoke system that overlaps SCPA's hinterland.
• Georgia Ports Authority: Operates the Port of Savannah, the largest single-terminal container facility in the Western Hemisphere and SCPA's most direct Southeast competitor for container, Ro-Ro, and inland intermodal cargo. Both compete heavily for the same automotive OEM and retail BCO volumes along the I-85/I-95 corridor.

Regional players

• North Carolina Ports: State port authority operating the Port of Wilmington and Port of Morehead City, with similar mandate to capture Southeast container, bulk, and breakbulk cargoes. Geographic neighbor targeting overlapping BMW, Honda, and agricultural export customers from the Carolinas.
• South Florida Container Terminal: Operates a container terminal at PortMiami competing for Latin America and Asia container traffic serving Southeastern US importers and exporters. Adjacent competitor for refrigerated cargo and perishable BCO volumes.

Others

• Norfolk Southern (intermodal partner): Railroad partner providing overnight intermodal service at Inland Port Greer and dray connectivity to Charleston terminals. Strategic supply-chain partner rather than a competitor, with senior leadership meeting SCPA to coordinate capacity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/scports
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCBV4Kv1M5mrRRuF-OPdCQ8Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/scports
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/scstateportsauthority?trk=top_nav_home
• Instagraminstagram.com/scports

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments5 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about South Carolina Ports Authority