Charleston Nets New Breakbulk Service

September 26, 2010

CHARLESTON, SC – September 26, 2010 – The Port of Charleston’s growing breakbulk business has attracted a new regular shipping service.

Liberty Global Logistics LLC, an American-flag ocean carrier specializing in general breakbulk and roll-on/roll-off cargo, has announced regular, monthly calls at the Port of Charleston’s Veterans Terminal. Liberty began calling Charleston on inducement in April and has had six ships dock at Veterans Terminal to date.

The new service makes calls across the Middle East on its regular rotation while offering customers the flexibility to sail additional routes based on demand. Liberty has deployed three, 6,100-car-unit vessels on the service, which makes its next Charleston stop in mid-October with the M/V Prestige New York.

The Port of Charleston has proven experience and resources to handle any type of breakbulk or rolling stock, said Mike Chapell, director of operations at Liberty Global Logistics. The potential is great to grow Liberty’s core business here.

The Charleston maritime community is pleased to welcome Liberty Global Logistics’ regular monthly calls, said Paul McClintock, senior vice president and chief commercial officer of the SCSPA. South Carolina Ports is committed to growing this sector of our business, which brings good jobs to our waterfront.

Regular ports of call on the Liberty service include Alexandria, Egypt; Salalah, Oman; Karachi, Pakistan; Mina Salman, Bahrain; Umm Qasr, Iraq; Ash Shuaiba, Kuwait; Aqaba, Jordan; Mersin, Turkey; and Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.

Shippers may contact the SCSPA’s Brad Stroble for additional information on Charleston’s breakbulk capabilities.

About the South Carolina State Ports Authority:

The South Carolina State Ports Authority, established by the state’s General Assembly in 1942, owns and operates public seaport facilities in Charleston and Georgetown, handling international commerce valued at nearly $45 billion annually while receiving no direct taxpayer subsidy.  An economic development engine for the state, port operations facilitate 260,800 jobs across South Carolina and $44.8 billion in economic activity each year.  For more information, visit www.scspa.com.