One of the reasons many foreign firms say they like South Carolina is the Port of Charleston and the global access it provides. Activity is on a steady rise at the port, which set a new volume record for the third

The Port of Charleston, the nation's fourth largest, set a record for cargo in 2005, including the 1 millionth South Carolina-assembled BMW, which went through the port in October.

consecutive year in 2005. The State Ports Authority (SPA) handled 1.98 million TEUs, up 6 percent from 2004. To handle the ever-increasing volume, the port is adding $64 million in new cranes this summer. Moves are in place to allow the port to serve the world's next generation of ships as two old bridges spanning the Cooper River will be removed starting in March.
   Two major expansion projects are in the early stages. The SPA is expecting permits in August for a new 280-acre (113-hectare) container terminal on the former Charleston Naval Complex, and it is pursuing development of a new container terminal on the South Carolina side of the Savannah River in Jasper County.
   One significant milestone in the 2005 ebb and flow of cargo was the shipment of the one millionth BMW in October. On an average day, BMW ships more than 400 South Carolina-assembled vehicles through the port.
   A private supply chain and logistics provider, Carolina Linkages, plans a $250-million project that would add to the state's logistics capabilities. A division of Charleston-based Safe-Ports Group, the company says it will develop an integrated intermodal transportation and distribution network serving the port. The company will develop a 100-acre (41-hectare) tract of industrial deep-water property adjacent to the former Navy base. The operation will bring in containers by barge from the port's Wando Terminal and by rail from the port's planned Naval Base terminal before moving cargo to distribution centers proposed in Orangeburg and other strategic locations in the state.