Largest vessel to call Port of Charleston arrives at Wando Welch

SC Ports and the Port of Charleston, South Carolina, set a new record yesterday, receiving their largest capacity containership to date – the OOCL Iris – at Wando Welch Terminal.

The record was previously held by CMA CGM’s MARCO POLO, which first called on Wando Welch in May 2021 and has a capacity of 16,022 TEUs.

“SC Ports’ strategic infrastructure investments allow us to continue welcoming the largest ships calling the U.S. East Coast,” SC Ports President and CEO, Barbara Melvin, said. “The OOCL Iris calling on the Port of Charleston is evidence of our commitment to providing highly productive port service to our customers.”

SC Ports has the deepest harbor on the U.S. East Coast at 52 feet.

This critical depth allows mega container ships to access the Port of Charleston at any time, regardless of tides, enabling customers to quickly drop off and pick up cargo.

The vessel arrives as SC Ports nears completion of a year-long infrastructure project along the terminal’s toe wall. The project will allow the berth to maintain a 54-foot depth, further supporting the 52-foot harbor depth.

SC Ports is investing nearly $3 billion to modernize port infrastructure, expand cargo capacity and build rail infrastructure to speed goods to market.