North Carolina ports poised for growth

North Carolina ports poised for growth

North Carolina ports are projecting a compounded annual growth rate of 18 percent in container volume and 16 percent in general cargo volume in 2007, said Thomas Eagar, chief executive of the North Carolina State Ports Authority.

   During fiscal year 2006 container tonnage across the state's ports totaled 5.8 million tons. Container moves were up 24 percent and general cargo volumes up 13 percent at the Port of Wilmington. Breakbulk cargo at Morehead City rose 19 percent.

   In early January the Port of Wilmington will receive four new 100-foot gauge electric-powered container cranes from Chinese manufacturer ZPMC, part of a large expansion plan to take advantage of trade growth that includes the construction of major container terminal down river from Wilmington, Eagar said.

   The cranes are key components in Wilmington's $143 million container terminal expansion, which includes significant upgrades to dock infrastructure. Wilmington's profile will likely change to more of a bulk and breakbulk facility once the North Carolina International Port is built on the Cape Fear River, but Wilmington will still serve smaller container ships, Eagar stressed.

   Expansion projects are also underway at the Port of Morehead City, which will become the state's primary bulk and breakbulk destination. Construction began in October on a new 178,000-square-foot general cargo warehouse that is expected to be ready for business in August, and a rail improvement project is nearing completion, Eagar said. The port's main access road, outside storage and truck parking areas are scheduled for repaving in early 2007, nearly doubling the amount of outside storage capacity adjacent to the road, he added.

   In anticipation of new business, the port authority has completed preliminary studies and design of a new port terminal across on Radio Island across the Newport River from Morehead City, Eagar said.