Business Briefs - December 20, 2018
CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEMS LEASES SPACE IN FORMER BLACKBAUD HEADQUARTERS BUILDING
Cambridge International Systems, Inc. subleased 16,633 square feet at 2000 Daniel Island Dr. in Charleston, SC. Ed Kercher, senior vice president/managing broker for Thalhimer, handled the lease negotiations on behalf of the tenant. Cambridge is expected to take occupancy of the space during the first quarter of 2019. According to Kercher, of the 220,000 square feet in the building, 35,000 square feet remains available to sublease on the fourth floor. Cambridge is the first subtenant.
According to the company’s website, Cambridge is the world’s largest manufacturer of metal conveying and engineered woven mesh solutions used in food processing and industrial markets, filtration, packaging and architectural applications.
THE BAR METHOD TO OPEN ON DI IN 2019
A new business will be setting up shop in the retail offerings at 211 River Landing Drive, adjacent to the Daniel Island Barber Shop and Posh. The Bar Method, a fitness studio operated by owner and instructor Molly Dunn, will be opening in the spring of 2019. According to the shop’s marketing materials, the Bar Method is “a safe, efficient, full-body workout that builds inner and outer strength, grace and poise.”
“The Bar Method isn’t just about building strength and confidence, we also seek to build community within our studios,” noted Dunn. “Daniel Island is a perfect location for us because of the strong community of small businesses. We cannot wait to support and connect with such an amazing network!”
For more information, visit www.charleston.barmethod.com.
SC PORTS AUTHORITY ACHIEVES RECORD NOVEMBER
Last week, the South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) announced its strongest November in history, with 15 percent growth over the same month last year.
The Port handled 188,585 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) in November. SCPA has moved 985,981 TEUs across the docks of its Wando Welch and North Charleston container terminals since the fiscal year began in July, an increase of 11 percent over the same period last year.
“While the US economy remains strong, there is increasing evidence that U.S. beneficial cargo owners advanced shipments from Asia in an effort to avoid tariffs,” said Jim Newsome, SCPA president and CEO. “Although mostly to the U.S. West Coast, in view of the shorter transit times, there were 25 extra loaders employed by container shipping lines to meet this peak demand. Most of these ships will arrive in December which indicates that December will be a busy month. The first calendar quarter of 2019, however, is much more uncertain in terms of outlook and considering strong volumes achieved in the same period in 2018.”
As measured in pier containers, or boxes handled, SCPA moved a record 107,762 boxes in November. Fiscal year-to-date, pier container volume is up nearly 12 percent with 562,185 boxes moved since July.
The SCPA board also recently approved a capital expenditure of $60 million to complete the outfitting of the Wando Welch Terminal, located across the Wando River from Daniel Island, with neo-Panamax cranes. SC Ports will purchase four more cranes from Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC) with 155 feet of lift height for delivery in mid-2020. Once delivered and commissioned, the Wando Terminal will have 15 cranes of similar capability, giving it the ability to handle three 14,000 TEU ships at once. This combined with efforts to densify the container yard, implement a new operating system (Tideworks), and expand gate and chassis capacity, the Wando Terminal will gain an additional 700,000 TEU of capacity.