Two Ports, One Ports Authority
The SC State Ports Authority owns and operates two port facilities:
the Port of Charleston and the Port of Georgetown.
These facilities are owner operated terminals, meaning SCSPA owns the
terminals and operates them with its own staff. SPA staff work in all
container cranes, run the container yard equipment, and operate gates
on all terminals. The only exceptions are the licensed operators at the
port, who lease terminal space and operate their own yards and gates within
the terminals; however, SPA staff still operate the dockside container
cranes and the yard equipment for licensed operators as well. Both union
and non-union labor work ships docked at SCSPA berths.
These facilities provide the access to international markets that helps
fulfill the mission of the port.