Introducing the
North Carolina International Terminal
North Carolina has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build a new international port in Brunswick County. A new port would bring thousands of new jobs and catapult North Carolina into the ranks of major U.S. ports.
Location: The terminal will be built on 600 acres of undeveloped land in Brunswick County, about 14 miles from the open ocean. The site represents one of the only locations along the East Coast suitable for development of a new deepwater port. The North Carolina State Ports Authority purchased the land in April 2006.
Timing: The development of the international terminal is in the intial planning stages. Similar projects typically take 10-20 years to develop. The North Carolina State Ports Authority is pursuing an aggressive timeline-with the hopes to begin costruction in 2013 and open for business by 2017.
Funding: The project is expected to cost $1 billion or more. Funding will likely come from many sources, including the N.C. Ports Authority, state and federal funds, and private financing.
Development Partner: An international engineering firm, CH2M HILL has been hired to help manage and design the port. The company has successfully developed major international ports in Seattle, Los Angeles, Houston, New York and Jacksonville, Florida, among others. The company has offices in Raleigh and Charlotte.
Current Status: The N.C. State Ports Authority and CH2M HILL have begun the firstphase of work, which includes developing preliminary port designs and conducting feasibility and environmental studies.
Why Build A New Port? A new international terminal will enable North Carolina to take advantage of dramatic growth in international shipping and the increasing demand for ports on the East Coast. International trade is expected to double by 2020-and the market for container shipping is growing even faster. Major ports along the East Coast are reaching capacity and have limited ability to expand.
Benefits to North Carolina: A new internationl terminal is expectd to provide a major economic boost and make North Carolina more competive for major manufacturing and assembly plants (such as the Daimler-Chrysler plant being built in South Carolina) and retail distribution centers.
International ports in Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia support an average of 250,000 jobs statewide and contribute an average of $1.5 billion to the economy.
A Boost to the Military: The international terminal will be located next to a signifiacnt military operation: the Military Ocean Terminal at Sunny Point. The U.S. Department of Defense has express support fora new port that could assist with military deployments.
North Carolina's Existing Ports: North Carolina currently operates ports in Morehead City and Wilmington, plus inland terminals in Charlotte and Greensboro. North Carolina ports have experienced considerable growth and are currently being expanded to meet future demand. An internationl port will complement the state's existing ports and allow North Carolina to accommodate large container ships than ports in Moreheard City and Wilmington can handle.
Did you Know?
The Economic Impact of North Carolina Ports: North Carolina ports have a considerable impact on the local and statewide economoy-supporting 85,000 jobs and contributing $299 million in local and state tax revenues.
The Important Role of International Ports: Ports serve as the backbone of international trade, providing the most efficient and least expensive way to import and export cargo. Deep drafts ports accommodate ocean-going vessels which carry more that 99 percent of the U.S. overseas trade by weight and 61 percent by value.