Resilient Wharf Extension Enhances Container-on-Barge Operations in Charleston’s Largest Terminal

The South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) is implementing the Inner-Harbor Container Barge Operation (IHCBO) project in Charleston Harbor to transfer containers on barges from the Wando Welch Terminal (WWT) to the Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal (HLT) and then on to the future Navy Base Intermodal Facility (NBIF). The primary tenets of this project are to improve multimodal capabilities and reduce environmental and safety impacts on the surrounding transportation infrastructure. A critical component of the project is extending the existing 3,800 ft (1,158 m) long container wharf at WWT by 700 ft (213 m) to simultaneously service up to two container barges and three new Panamax container ships. This paper describes the design solutions adopted to provide a seismically resilient wharf extension structure that not only allows a seamless operational transition between existing and new infrastructure but also minimizes maintenance required for the structure, dredging, slope protection, and utilities, while servicing a variety of vessel types.