Joint SC-Ga. Port board to study river capacity

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — The two-state board working to develop a $5 billion container ship terminal on the Savannah River will study capacity and navigation issues on the waterway.

The board is working to develop a joint terminal on the South Carolina side of the river just downstream from the city of Savannah.

South Carolina State Ports Authority board chairman Bill Stern says the studies are needed now to determine if the project is viable and can handle ships after the Georgia ports reach capacity.

Joint board chairman Jim Balloun of Georgia asked both state ports authorities to appoint someone to oversee the studies.

He has no doubt the terminal will proceed. He says it will be needed in the coming years as the Georgia ports in Garden City reach capacity.