Port of Charleston opens new reefer service facility

South Carolina Ports Authority  (SCPA) announced the opening of a new refrigerated container service area in the Port of Charleston, marking a $14 million investment to support growing cold chain business in the Southeast, by enhancing reefer processing for shippers, truckers and ocean carriers.

As explained, a new six-acre refrigerated container service area at the Wando Welch Terminal features a 12-lane service canopy, on-site storage and staging for gen-sets and container washing stations.

What is more, the Port has four new five-story refrigerated container racks that provide 120 more reefer slots on terminal, bringing the port-wide total to 1,700 plugs. Four additional racks of the same size are under construction, slated for completion in January 2018.

“Expansion of refrigerated cargo is a strong driver of SCPA’s overall volume growth, and our capital investment in refrigerated cargo infrastructure reflects a strategic commitment to our cold chain customers,” said Jim Newsome, SCPA president and CEO.

SCPA’s loaded refrigerated cargo volumes have grown 86 percent since 2011.