Port interests stress deeper Charleston Harbor

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — More than 100 people turned out to provide the first public comment on a $300 million project to deepen the Charleston Harbor so the city can serve larger ships that will be calling when the Panama Canal is widened.

State Ports Authority president and CEO Jim Newsome told the gathering Tuesday in Charleston the project is the authority’s top strategic priority.

He said the state is competing with other ports, adding that everyone wants their harbor deepened but not every harbor will be deepened.

Newsome spoke at a so-called scoping meeting held by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers seeking comment on what a harbor deepening feasibility study should include. The corps is taking comment until Feb. 10.

Then it starts work on the study and an environmental impact statement.