South Carolina mayors seek federal funds for Charleston dredging

NEARLY 100 mayors representing cities and towns across South Carolina are urging US President Obama in a letter to fund the next stage of a project to deepen Charleston's harbour to more than 45 feet amid expectations that the expansion of the Panama Canal will bring more large ships to the east coast.

In the letter the 98 mayors asked President Obama to include funding in the federal administration's budget for the US Army Corps of Engineers to continue with the Charleston harbour deepening project, noting the port's "tremendous contribution to jobs across the region," said a statement from the South Carolina State Ports Authority.

In support of their case for deepening the harbour, the letter cited a study completed earlier this year by the Corps as saying, "Preliminary studies at other nearby harbours show that Charleston harbour would probably be the cheapest South Atlantic harbour to deepen to 50 feet."

The mayors stressed that the US needs a deepwater southeast port to remain competitive in international trade. "We must offer ocean carriers a 50-foot harbour to import and export their goods in the northeast, mid-Atlantic and southeast," the letter said.

"Charleston has been deemed by the Corps of Engineers to be the best value for the taxpayer as the federal government invests in harbours and shipping channels in a region where approximately 26,000 companies in two dozen states utilise our port facilities. This fact cannot be overlooked as you and the Congress are challenged daily by the mounting federal debt and the need to balance the budget," the letter said.

The port authorities claim that in South Carolina, nearly US$12 billion in wages and more than 260,000 jobs are related to the port.

At present Charleston offers 48 feet of water at high tide.
(Source:www.schednet.com)