By Matt Tomsic
mtomsic@scbiznews.com
Published July 16, 2012

The S.C. State Ports Authority covered its last geographic hole last week and nabbed a carrier from the Port of Savannah with the announcement of a service from Charleston to Australia and New Zealand.

Ports CEO Jim Newsome made the announcement during a news conference to update the community on an accelerated time line for a study to deepen Charleston Harbor beyond 45 feet.

Hamburg Sud is moving its Australia/New Zealand service from the Port of Savannah to Charleston in September.

The shipping line called on the Port of Charleston with the Australia/New Zealand service until 2007, when it switched to the Port of Savannah, said Allison Skipper, a spokeswoman for the ports authority.

The service will bring 52 ships to the port each year and will call on the Wando Welch Terminal. Charleston joins Philadelphia as the only two calls in the United States, and the liner will connect those ports with Sydney; Auckland, New Zealand; and other cities.

Earlier this year, Newsome said the ports authority needs to be aggressive and focused in its search for new cargo and services. He cited the need for an Australian service, noting one of its customers, Michelin, needs access to that market.

At the time, Newsome said, “We don’t want to spend time on things that are never going to happen.”