North Carolina International Port
Encyclopedia
In early 2006 the North Carolina State Ports Authority
(NCSPA) conceived its proposal for a North Carolina International Terminal to be created on property that it purchased just north of the town of Southport, NC between the Progress Energy Brunswick Nuclear Power Plant and the Sunny Point Military Ammunitions Port. The NCSPA purchased the property in early 2006 for $30 million from Pfizer.
in the Wilmington Harbor has a dredge depth of 42 (+/-) feet). Development of the North Carolina International Terminal on the existing footprint could result in a terminal that could handle as many as 2-3 million TEUs a year, which is equivalent to the capacity currently handled by container terminals such as Charleston
and Savannah
. Construction cost projections as of June 2010 are approximately $4.4 billion (escalated).
Development will require additional transportation infrastructure expenditures to accommodate the movement of cargo to and from the terminal by both road and rail. Currently, both road and rail access to the proposed North Carolina International Terminal site are limited and will require substantial improvement to accommodate the expected cargo volumes and to alleviate additional traffic on local roadways.
lead the list of supporters. In September 2011, the Brunswick County Commissioners passed a resolution endorsing a USACE feasibility study of the proposed port. The resolution was presented by Yes Port NC, also a supporter of the port proposal.
Opposition:
All six communities in the affected lower Cape Fear region have expressed their opposition to the proposed port, including Southport, Caswell Beach, Bald Head Island, Saint James, Boiling Spring Lakes and Oak Island. On June 29, 2010, US Congressman Mike McIntyre
, who represents the affected 7th Congressional District and is the Vice-Chairman of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Terrorism, announced his opposition to the proposed terminal. Rep. McIntyre cited most of the negative issues listed below as the basis for his opposition. The US Fish and Wildlife Commission has also expressed its opposition.
, have expressed their opposition based on concerns for its environmental impact in this ecologically sensitive area; as well as local health and quality-of-life impacts associated with imposing major port traffic on this small residential coastal community (Southport, North Carolina
). In addition, the proposed deeper dredging required to support post-Panamax containership vessels threatens shoreline integrity of Cape Fear coastal communities (Oak Island, North Carolina
) and (Bald Head Island, North Carolina
) as well as threatening the integrity of the fresh water aquifer (required for potable water throughout the region) that runs immediately below the existing Cape Fear River seaway and would be destroyed by seawater impingement if the specified dredging depths occurred. Consistent with other major port areas along the eastern seaboard, port opponents fear that residential property values in the affected lower Cape Fear would decrease substantially.
) and the world's largest weapons, ammunition, explosives and military equipment terminal (Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point
).
North Carolina State Ports Authority
The North Carolina State Ports Authority is an authority set up by the state of North Carolina to develop and operate seaports in Wilmington and Morehead City, two inland container facilities, one in Charlotte and one in Greensboro, and a marina in Southport. It is planning a large international...
(NCSPA) conceived its proposal for a North Carolina International Terminal to be created on property that it purchased just north of the town of Southport, NC between the Progress Energy Brunswick Nuclear Power Plant and the Sunny Point Military Ammunitions Port. The NCSPA purchased the property in early 2006 for $30 million from Pfizer.
Planned Scope and Infrastructure Investment
Conceptual designs for the North Carolina International Terminal call for a high-density, automated container terminal capable of serving 12,000-TEU vessels with at least a 50-foot draft (the existing navigation channel serving the Port of WilmingtonWilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
in the Wilmington Harbor has a dredge depth of 42 (+/-) feet). Development of the North Carolina International Terminal on the existing footprint could result in a terminal that could handle as many as 2-3 million TEUs a year, which is equivalent to the capacity currently handled by container terminals such as Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
and Savannah
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
. Construction cost projections as of June 2010 are approximately $4.4 billion (escalated).
Development will require additional transportation infrastructure expenditures to accommodate the movement of cargo to and from the terminal by both road and rail. Currently, both road and rail access to the proposed North Carolina International Terminal site are limited and will require substantial improvement to accommodate the expected cargo volumes and to alleviate additional traffic on local roadways.
New Container Traffic and Job Creation Opportunity
In support of their land purchase and the proposed construction, the NCSPA has stated that there are currently few ports on the U.S. East Coast that can offer the deep draft conditions and large container terminals that will be required in the future. New locks and channels are now under construction in the Panama Canal, with completion scheduled for 2014, allowing for much larger "post-Panamax" containerships to transit the canal. At that point, many containers that are now transiting the Pacific and unloading at west coast ports and moving via rail to points east will move more economically to east coast ports through the canal. It is intended that the proposed port capitalize on this new container growth and provide new job opportunities for the region and the state.Excess Capacity Projected at Existing East Coast Ports
In competition with the proposed port, the majority of existing east coast ports are now investing in dredging and expansion projects to attract the larger post-Panamax vessels. In February 2011, Alberto Aleman, the CEO of the Panama Canal, addressed the issue of expanding capacity on the east coast "Two deeper, wider ports along the US Eastern seaboard and one in the Gulf coast should be enough to handle the growth in traffic, instead of the approximately 13 port expansions now underway. The East Coast has many ports, and the large container ships are not going to stop at every port." Given a future environment of such excess capacity where the new post-Panamax vessels can find existing east coast ports competing with each other for business, it is likely that the proposed Southport site will be in a difficult competitive position. North Carolina manufacturers will have a number of existing cost-competitive overseas shipping port options to keep them competitive with other east coast manufacturers without a taxpayer-subsidized port in Southport.Public and Political Support versus Opposition
Support: The NCSPA, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Int'l Longshoremen's Assoc. and North Carolina Governor Bev PerdueBev Perdue
Beverly Eaves "Bev" Perdue is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party currently serving as the 73rd Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina. She is the first female governor of North Carolina....
lead the list of supporters. In September 2011, the Brunswick County Commissioners passed a resolution endorsing a USACE feasibility study of the proposed port. The resolution was presented by Yes Port NC, also a supporter of the port proposal.
Opposition:
All six communities in the affected lower Cape Fear region have expressed their opposition to the proposed port, including Southport, Caswell Beach, Bald Head Island, Saint James, Boiling Spring Lakes and Oak Island. On June 29, 2010, US Congressman Mike McIntyre
Mike McIntyre
Douglas Carmichael "Mike" McIntyre II is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1997. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
, who represents the affected 7th Congressional District and is the Vice-Chairman of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Terrorism, announced his opposition to the proposed terminal. Rep. McIntyre cited most of the negative issues listed below as the basis for his opposition. The US Fish and Wildlife Commission has also expressed its opposition.
Impact on the Environment, Quality-of-Life and Property Values
Opponents of the megaport, including Save the Cape and NoPort SouthportNoPort Southport
NoPort Southport NC, Inc., is a grassroots organization of citizens of the lower Cape Fear region of North Carolina, formed in 2008 to oppose the development of the North Carolina International Terminal...
, have expressed their opposition based on concerns for its environmental impact in this ecologically sensitive area; as well as local health and quality-of-life impacts associated with imposing major port traffic on this small residential coastal community (Southport, North Carolina
Southport, North Carolina
Southport is a city in Brunswick County, North Carolina, near the mouth of the Cape Fear River. It is part of the Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area...
). In addition, the proposed deeper dredging required to support post-Panamax containership vessels threatens shoreline integrity of Cape Fear coastal communities (Oak Island, North Carolina
Oak Island, North Carolina
Oak Island, North Carolina is a seaside town located mostly on the barrier island of Oak Island , in Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States. A small part of the town extends onto the mainland north of the island's bridge. The population was 6,571 at the 2000 census...
) and (Bald Head Island, North Carolina
Bald Head Island, North Carolina
Bald Head Island is a village located on the east side of the Cape Fear River in Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States. Compared to the city of Wilmington to the north, the village of Bald Head Island is small and somewhat remote. It is only accessible by ferry from the nearby town of...
) as well as threatening the integrity of the fresh water aquifer (required for potable water throughout the region) that runs immediately below the existing Cape Fear River seaway and would be destroyed by seawater impingement if the specified dredging depths occurred. Consistent with other major port areas along the eastern seaboard, port opponents fear that residential property values in the affected lower Cape Fear would decrease substantially.
Terrorism Risk
The affected municipalities in the lower Cape Fear, as well as US Congressman Mike McIntyre, have expressed substantial safety and security concerns; since the proposed port site is located adjacent to both a nuclear power plant (Brunswick Nuclear Generating StationBrunswick Nuclear Generating Station
The Brunswick nuclear power plant, named for the county in which it is located, covers 1,200 acres . The site is adjacent to the town of Southport, North Carolina, and to wetlands and woodlands, and was opened in 1975....
) and the world's largest weapons, ammunition, explosives and military equipment terminal (Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point
Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point
Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point is the largest military terminal in the world. It serves as a transfer point between rail, trucks, and ships for the import and export of weapons, ammunition, explosives and military equipment for United States Army...
).