IS YOUR PORT READY?
Behold the CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin … the largest container ship ever to sail to the United States.
This massive vessel called on the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, California last weekend, officially ushering in the “mega-ship” era in the United States.
Built in China, registered in Great Britain and owned by a French shipping fleet, the Franklin holds a whopping 18,000 TEUs (or twenty-foot equivalent units, the industry metric). That makes it roughly a third bigger than the largest ships currently visiting U.S. ports.
You know, when they’re open.
Take a look …
(Click to play)
(Vid: Via)
Longer than the Empire State building and wider than a football field, this single-shaft, screw propeller monster wouldn’t be able to dock in the increasingly non-competitive port of Charleston, S.C. Not only is the harbor there not deep enough, but Charleston’s cranes aren’t tall enough to unload its cargo. Of course as we’ve pointed out, Charleston’s lack of competitiveness isn’t really a depth problem – as most of the ships calling on American ports are in the 8,600 – 9,400 TEU range.
Charleston’s problem? Its glaring lack of rail and road access – one unfortunate byproduct of its refusal to accept private investment in port infrastructure.
“All of Charleston’s container terminals are currently deep enough to service these vessels at all stages of the tide when fully-loaded under normal sailing conditions,” we recently wrote. “However, Charleston’s rail and road deficiencies make it unlikely that these vessels will skip Savannah in favor of Charleston.”
Indeed …
Savannah (thanks to a capable assist from S.C. governor Nikki Haley) is poised to continue pummeling Charleston in this increasingly competitive market.
Sure, size matters, but “smart” matters more …
Sadly in South Carolina we’ve got neither.
17 comments
China built, Great Britain registered and French owned…but still named for a great American – Ben Franklin and scheduled to primarily conduct trade with the world’s economic superpower – the United States.
As an aside, after the first of the 18k TEU behemoths goes down, runs aground or crushes some other ship with the right of way, Lloyds will jack their insurance rates up astronomically and they’ll fall out of favor. There are only 14 ports in the US that can handle PANAMAX ships and this monster is larger still. In the US, only Norfolk, Virginia, Baltimore and New York on the East coast will ever be able to handle these ships without major channel and harbor work (Savannah can’t handle them and probably never will be able to because of the river’s unpredictability)
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Blah blah! Many of the advantages Savannah has were baked in long before Haley took office. Savannah would have gotten their channel deepened no matter what SC, Haley or DHEC did. The US Corp would have over ruled DHEC.
DHEC should not be used to give Charleston a competitive advantage. It’s pupose is to protect health and the environment.
There is a large portion of South Carolina that benefits more from the port at Savannah than at Charleston. Many Carolinians work at the port of Savannah. Jasper is only going to be developed when Savannah reaches capacity and to serve mega ships. Savannah’s expansion will cost $500 million. Jasper will cost two billion.
The most import thing is for Charleston to be able to serve post Panamax vessels. The Benjamin Franklin will never get through the Panama Canal. Such ships could come from europe or the Suez canal, but those shipping lanes are closer to north Atlantic ports and would not likely want to come to Charleston or Savannah.
Savannah’s disadvantage is that it is an inland port and has limits to being deepened. Savannah’s advantage is that it is an inland port and there is more space for rail and Highway connections. Savannah is also closer to Atlanta, the South’s major distribution hub. Charleston is doing fine and Savannah’s sucess is great for South Carolina also.
Are you saying there is a difference between Sanford and Haley ?
One’s an “innie” and the other’s an “outie”?!?
Agreed, other that that, no difference.
Sanford didn’t see economic development as a core government function. He and fits call it cronyism. Haley sees it differently.
How do you see it ? may I ask ?
I’m a crony capitalist as long as South Carolina’s competition is doing it. I think it is good for workers, not just big biz.
How about taxpayers, how do they fit in ?
Sic Semper: Taxpayers? They’re the suckers who are supposed to fund the crony capitalism and then keep their mouths shut. Remember: It’s infrastructure and risk socialized. Profits privatized.
Thanks for the reply, spot on. I want thumper to answer.
Most of the breaks are property taxes on improvements. The state would not get that anyway if the company decides to go to another state.
Roads and interchange improvements are things that benefit others besides the new company and should be paid by the state. Many companies benefit from job training, not just new companies.
Finally, the general population often benefit from new industry. There property value goes up. Retail sales go up, the tax base broadens etc…
Who determine the estimates that are mentioned? The general population benefit, how?
Which container carries the atom bomb.
Per Sen. Graham’s request they aren’t shipping it until the Charleston harbor has been deepened.
Ya mean it isn’t Trump’s yacht? It can carry Trump’s ego with room for Bill’s, Hillary’s AND Bushes’ and Obamas…