File Photo
The 11,669 lifts were 22 percent higher than the previous record of 9,593 lifts in January at the Greer Inland Port.
The 11,669 lifts were 22 percent higher than the previous record of 9,593 lifts in January. Greer has handled 84,874 lifts through the first three quarters of the fiscal year.
The projected 110,000 rail moves in fiscal year 2017 will be easily surpassed at its current rate.
To illustrate the volume handled at the Greer port all of the original concrete dock is virtually full and the east side of the port is facilitating overflow of equipment.
The SCPA Board of Directors, last June, approved $2.2 million toward expansion at the inland port – $1.6 million in fiscal year 2017 and $600,000 to complete the expansion in FY 2018.
The expansion is projected to grow to 70 of the site’s 100 acres. The port now operates on 38 acres. The volume has demanded an increase of five cranes from its original two.
The Greer port growth mirrored the nine percent year-over-year growth of twenty foot-equivalent units (TEUs) and record-breaking March volumes.
SCPA has handled 1.58 million TEUs since July, compared to 1.45 million during the same period last fiscal year. March was the strongest month in the Port's history, with 192,411 TEUs handled during the month.