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News Briefs
Longtime customer extends port contract for another five years
Shipping giant Evergreen America, one of the Port of Charleston’s largest and oldest customers, has signed a new contract extending its 30-year relationship with the South Carolina State Ports Authority to the year 2011.
Evergreen America Corp. is North America general agent for three of the world’s leading carriers: Evergreen Marine, Lloyd Triestino and Hatsu Marine.
The steamship line is owned by Taiwan’s Evergreen Marine Corp., which was recently awarded “Best Shipping Line—Intra-Asian Trade” at the annual Asian Freight and Supply Chain awards. This is the second consecutive year Evergreen has been so honored.
Evergreen boasts a fleet of more than 100 container vessels serving more than 80 countries. Its shipping network links the Port of Charleston to trading companies in Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia.
MeadWestvaco receives technological innovation award
The American Forest & Paper Association has recognized MeadWestvaco Corp. for outstanding industry performance in the 33rd Annual Environmental & Energy Achievement Awards.
The awards, presented during the Environment, Health, Safety & Energy executive committee meeting in May, recognize companies that contribute significantly to advances in the practical application of new and improved environmental and energy technology.
MeadWestvaco received the award for its entry, “Ammonia Scrubber for Condensate Stripper Off-Gases.” Company engineers in the North Charleston mill developed and implemented the innovative process to capture ammonia in waste gases and use it as a nutrient for the wastewater treatment plant. The process reduces nitrous oxide emissions by 80 tons per year.
Georgia Tech researchers seek to make ports more earthquake-proof
Georgia Institute of Technology researchers are developing strategies to help safeguard ports from earthquake damage.
The $3.6 million project, intended to bolster protections for the Port of Charleston and its counterparts across the country, is being sponsored by the National Science Foundation.
U.S. ports serve as vital gateways for international trade, but they’re particularly vulnerable to damage in an earthquake, said Glenn J. Rix, a professor in Georgia Tech’s School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the project’s director.
Charleston was the site of the largest earthquake to strike the eastern United States in modern times. The quake, which is currently estimated to have had a magnitude of between 6.6 and 7.6 on the Richter scale, occurred on Aug. 31, 1886, and left 90% of the city in ruins.
Water, sewer limits set for Johns Island
A plan to limit urban growth on a portion of Johns Island calls for Charleston Water System to deny sewer service to the lower section of the island and to limit new connections to 1,250.
The governing board of commissioners on Tuesday approved conceptual plans that would continue service to areas of the island within the city of Charleston and to parts of the unincorporated area surrounded by the city.
CWS officials said the water company will not provide sewer service west and south of Main and Plow Ground roads and only 1,250 connections in the area between those roads and land in the city’s jurisdiction.
North Charleston creates new positions, tweaks roles
North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey has created two new positions for city staff in order to streamline city government.
The realignment of staff is intended to give Summey and his assistant, Ray Anderson, more time to concentrate on planning and growth.
Two new division heads will report to the mayor: Finance Director Warren Newton will become administrative division head over eight departments, while Public Works Director Michael Hendrick will be the public service division director over three departments.
Newton will supervise building operations, court administration, purchasing, finance, base, personnel, parking and management information systems. Hendrick will oversee public works, cultural arts and recreation.
Public Safety Director Jon Zumalt will continue to report directly to the mayor on the fire and police departments as well as code enforcement, planning and building inspection.
MUSC researchers use animal bone marrow to repair human heart
Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina have made a discovery that could lead to repairing damaged human heart valves by using animal bone marrow as a source for stem cells.
MUSC cardiovascular biologists Rick Visconti and Christopher Drake published the stem cell discovery in a recent issue of Circulation Research, a journal published by the American Heart Association.
The study suggests how stem cells can be used for tissue-engineered heart valves.
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