Santee Cooper contracts with Lowcountry company to replace 80-ton gate at the Pinopolis Lock
December 14, 2023
For just the second time in the 81-year history of Santee Cooper’s Jefferies Hydroelectric Station, the 80-ton emergency Tainter gate at the Pinopolis Lock is being replaced – with the help of a local company.
Santee Cooper has partnered with W International in Goose Creek, South Carolina, to fabricate and assemble a new emergency Tainter gate for the Pinopolis Lock, which connects Lake Moultrie to the Tailrace Canal and the Cooper River. W International, located in the Bushy Park Industrial area, is an advanced metal fabricator specializing in large, complex structural fabrications.
“Consistent with our mission, our goal is to work with businesses and industry in the state to help South Carolina thrive,” said Jimmy Staton, Santee Cooper President and CEO. “W International has a strong reputation as an industry leader in large fabrications. We’re proud to be able to say the gate was made right here in the Lowcountry and that we, as South Carolinians, are working together to energize South Carolina.”
“Working hand-in-hand with Santee Cooper on replacing the emergency Tainter gate upstream of the Pinopolis Lock system has been an extraordinary journey,” said Jim Logan, President of W International. “Our team feels honored to have contributed to such a pivotal project, particularly one located a mere 22 miles upriver from our facility – a testament to the local community.”
“Teaming up with Santee Cooper has been nothing short of inspiring,” continued Logan. “Collaborating on critical infrastructure aligns seamlessly with our shared vision of supporting Santee Cooper’s mission to enhance the quality of life for every South Carolinian. Together, we have strived to deliver not just a gate replacement, but a testament to resilience and progress for the region. We are immensely proud to have been part of this milestone achievement.”
The fully assembled Tainter gate was loaded on a barge at W International on Dec. 9 and arrived at the Pinopolis Lock after about a six-hour journey up the West Branch of the Cooper River. Crews with Superior Cranes Inc., which has a Charleston-area location in Moncks Corner, are placing the gate in its final location this week, pending any weather delays. The previous gate was damaged in September 2022 when Hurricane Ian blew through the state. The original Tainter gate, installed in 1942, reached its end-of-life stage in 2003. Those gates now reside next to each other at a permitted fish attractor location in Lake Moultrie.
The Tainter gate allows Santee Cooper to safely perform maintenance on the lock’s upper miter gates. The gate also is designed to mitigate an unlikely “free flow” incident and, in the event of such an emergency, it will raise to choke off the flow of water through the lock system.
About W International
W International has delivered approximately 50 products weighing as much as 600,000 pounds via barge shipment. Their team is devoted to supporting the nation’s armed forces, and they are especially proud to contribute to U.S. Navy submarines and surface vessels.
W International SC, LLC manufactures large, close-tolerance, complex structures for critical Aerospace, Defense, and Energy projects. W International’s manufacturing facility is located in Goose Creek, South Carolina, on the Cooper River, 12 miles north of Charleston’s port, on 45 acres, with 480,000 square feet of indoor heavy manufacturing space. The facility utilizes large CNC machining centers and sophisticated welding equipment to produce highly technical, complex components.
