A PROPOSAL to build an intermodal transfer yard with a capacity of eventually handling 800,000 TEU annually, and the potential to link trucks to trains near a new container terminal at the US Port of Charleston, has sparked a row between state agencies and private companies.
Shipyard Creek Associates wishes to build the yard on 135 acres of land it owns which is near to the South Caroline State Ports Authority development of North Charleston 280-acre container. In theory this would see boxes shuttling between the intermodal yard and the new box terminal but the sticking point is the necessity of an access road to the terminal itself.
According to the South Carolina Department of Transportation this would postpone the building of the road by a year or more, and it fears such a move would delay the scheduled 2013 opening of the North Charleston terminal.
A report by Cargonews Asia said the US Department of Transport and the state port authorities are strongly against further delays in opening the terminal.
As such when the suggestion to build the intermodal transfer yard was put forward by Shipyard Creek Associates and CSX Transportation is was met with a cold response.
The plan for the intermodal transfer yard would require the development of a new bridge to shuttle containers between the intermodal facility and the new container terminal. The plan also envisions a network of distribution centres and warehousing facilities and rail service by CSX.
Robert Clement, a local developer who is one of the owners of Shipyard Creek Associates, maintains the intermodal project is needed to be competitive.
Shipyard Creek Associates wishes to build the yard on 135 acres of land it owns which is near to the South Caroline State Ports Authority development of North Charleston 280-acre container. In theory this would see boxes shuttling between the intermodal yard and the new box terminal but the sticking point is the necessity of an access road to the terminal itself.
According to the South Carolina Department of Transportation this would postpone the building of the road by a year or more, and it fears such a move would delay the scheduled 2013 opening of the North Charleston terminal.
A report by Cargonews Asia said the US Department of Transport and the state port authorities are strongly against further delays in opening the terminal.
As such when the suggestion to build the intermodal transfer yard was put forward by Shipyard Creek Associates and CSX Transportation is was met with a cold response.
The plan for the intermodal transfer yard would require the development of a new bridge to shuttle containers between the intermodal facility and the new container terminal. The plan also envisions a network of distribution centres and warehousing facilities and rail service by CSX.
Robert Clement, a local developer who is one of the owners of Shipyard Creek Associates, maintains the intermodal project is needed to be competitive.