A port in Jasper County located on the South Carolina side of the Savannah River is economically viable, according to the top economic expert at a leading global infrastructure firm.
“Demand does support the development of the Jasper terminal,” said Walter Kemmsies, according to The (Charleston, S.C.) Post and Courier.
Kemmsies is chief economist at Moffat & Nichol – a firm which bills itself as specializing “in the planning and design of facilities that shape our coastlines, harbors and rivers as well as an innovator in the transportation complexities associated with the movement of freight.”
Kemmsies said South Carolina leaders needed to move quickly to capitalize on this opportunity, though.
Are they doing that? Hell no …
In fact the Post and Courier specifically refers to the Jasper site as nothing but “a dredge spoil area downriver from the Port Savannah.”
Who do we have to thank for that? S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley – whose infamous “Savannah River Sellout” gave a green light to government-funded expansion at the Port of Savannah (which is in Georgia) while obligating the Jasper Port site to receive toxic sludge from the dredging associated with this project.
Georgia gets its port expansion, South Carolina gets shat on, in other words …
In exchange for this flagrant betrayal of our state’s economic interests, Haley received financial support from Georgia donors as well as a prime time speaking slot at the 2012 Republican National Convention.
Anyway, the failure of our state to take advantage of the last remaining deepwater port location on the Eastern Seaboard is inexcusable. And the fact we’ve empowered one of our competitors in the process is downright criminal … or it should be.
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10 comments
Its kind of no brainer. Jasper terminal would be signifigantly closer to the ocean than Savannah. SCPA is very against allowing private companies to invade their turf, even if it causes the state billions. Privatley operated terminals are much more effcient than Govt operated terminals and much more profitable. They also pay taxes.
The only way Jasper will have its port is if Nikki Haley finds a way to sell the county to Georgia.
Amen. Also, there is no politically powerful group or person in that area of South Carolina to champion the concept. Georgia’s governor played our Governor like a violin.
Its kind of no brainer. Jasper terminal would be signifigantly closer to the ocean than Savannah. SCPA is very against allowing private companies to invade their turf, even if it causes the state billions. Privatley operated terminals are much more effcient than Govt operated terminals and much more profitable. They also pay taxes.
The only way Jasper will have its port is if Nikki Haley finds a way to sell the county to Georgia.
Amen. Also, there is no politically powerful group or person in that area of South Carolina to champion the concept. Georgia’s governor played our Governor like a violin.
Is it not true that the Jasper site can never be developed as a port until four feet of fill (dredging spoils?) has been deposited?
Is it not true that the Jasper site can never be developed as a port until four feet of fill (dredging spoils?) has been deposited?
If I owned a shipping company I would rather have my ships travel some 60 miles round trip up a narrow channel than dropping their cargo off at a port a few miles up channel
If I owned a shipping company I would offer Mande Wilkes one million dollars just for a peek of her tata’s
If I owned a shipping company I would rather have my ships travel some 60 miles round trip up a narrow channel than dropping their cargo off at a port a few miles up channel
If I owned a shipping company I would offer Mande Wilkes one million dollars just for a peek of her tata’s