PORT OF SAVANNAH CELEBRATES …
S.C. governor Nikki Haley‘s economic development legacy may not be “as advertised” for those of us living in South Carolina … but it’s sure been a boon for the state of Georgia.
Hey … as long as it’s “a great day” someplace, right?
Anyway, this week the Port of Savannah welcomed the MOL Benefactor – a 10,100 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) behemoth that is the largest vessel ever to call on the port.
In toasting the new ship’s arrival, Georgia’s port executives boasted that Savannah “is well-positioned to handle the larger vessels and greater volumes due to the scale and scope of our operations.”
Indeed it is …
And Georgia has no one to thank for that more than Haley.
Five years ago, Haley infamously betrayed her own state’s best economic interests in exchange for some national exposure – courtesy of the chairman of the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA).
Haley’s “Savannah River Sellout” – first exposed by this website – was rebuked without a single dissenting vote in both the S.C. House and the State Senate. The S.C. Supreme Court blasted her, too.
Unfortunately the damage was done …
The Port of Savannah continues to kick the Port of Charleston’s ass in the aftermath of Haley’s betrayal. Of course that’s not surprising given the gift-wrapped competitive advantage Haley gave them – or the fact our state’s government-run system remains a nonstop clusterfuck.
In recent months the S.C. State Ports Authority (SCSPA) has come under extensive scrutiny – with a renewed focus on questionable expenses and dubious long-term plans.
But after nearly a decade of following its incompetence, we don’t expect anything to change anytime soon.