> South Carolina pays the toll…

and gets what it voted for:


South Carolina Ports to Pause Leatherman Terminal Operations as Trade Headwinds Mount
Mike Schuler
June 29, 2026

South Carolina Ports (SC Ports) will temporarily suspend container operations at its Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal beginning August 1, marking the latest setback for the $1 billion facility that has struggled to gain momentum since opening just over five years ago.

The port authority said Thursday it will consolidate container operations at its Wando Welch and North Charleston terminals while the industry navigates weaker cargo volumes, trade uncertainty and other market headwinds.

“We are working with our maritime partners to make this business decision to achieve long-term, sustainable growth,” SC Ports President and CEO Micah Mallace said in a statement. “We all want to retain current business and attract new business to Charleston.”

SC Ports said the remaining terminals have sufficient capacity to handle current volumes while maintaining the reliable service customers expect from the Port of Charleston.

The move comes as U.S. ports face an increasingly uncertain outlook amid shifting trade patterns and softer import demand.

“As an economic driver and job creator for South Carolina, we remain focused on delivering exceptional service to our customers and generating growth,” Mallace said. “The maritime industry, and the thousands of companies and people connected to our port, all depend on us — and we intend to deliver for them.”

The announcement is the latest twist in the turbulent history of Leatherman Terminal, which was envisioned as the centerpiece of Charleston’s future growth.

When the terminal opened in April 2021, it was hailed as the first new container terminal built in the United States since 2009. The initial phase added 700,000 TEUs of annual capacity, with a 1,400-foot berth capable of accommodating container ships carrying up to 20,000 TEUs. At full buildout, the terminal is expected to add 2.4 million TEUs of annual capacity, effectively doubling Charleston’s container handling capability.

https://gcaptain.com/south-carolina-por … ds-mount/?