“S” is for South Carolina State Ports Authority

“S” is for South Carolina State Ports Authority. The South Carolina State Ports Authority is a state owned enterprise established by the General Assembly in 1942 to create and operate seaports in Charleston, Georgetown, and Port Royal. Charleston is South Carolina's principal seaport, with six terminals. As of 2026 Charleston ranked eighth in the United States for the number of containers handled and sixth in the value of cargo handled. In 2014 the Authority sold the Port Royal property and in 2023 turned over the Georgetown facility to Georgetown County for development. In Charleston the Authority manages its own facilities with its own employees, who are state employees. The South Carolina State Ports Authority is governed by a nine member board appointed by the governor and approved by the state Senate for seven-year terms,