Happy New Year!

摘要

Is it possible that 2010 will bring some relief from the economic woes that have bedeviled the nation for the past few years? Certainly at this time last year, we were all wondering when it might end. Indeed, things were not looking good in Charleston as we entered 2009: container volumes were down, Maersk was threatening to leave the port completely, and the senior leadership at the South Carolina State Ports Authority was in disarray. What a difference a year makes. Import container volumes are showing a slight up-tick, hopefully reflecting the first signs of a larger recovery. In addition, Maersk and the Ports Authority have negotiated a new multi-year agreement that will keep the company's service in Charleston. Finally, James Newsome has hit the ground running as the new ports authority CEO and is already moving to reestablish Charleston as one of the top container ports on the Atlantic seaboard.