These facilities handle containers, motor vehicles and other rolling stock, non-containerized goods and project cargo, as well as Charleston's cruise ship operation.

After establishing Charles Towne along the banks of the Ashley River in 1670, the original settlers moved to the Charleston peninsula, favoring that location's natural harbor.

Today, the Port of Charleston boasts the deepest water in the southeast region and regularly handles post-Panamax vessels passing through the newly expanded Panama Canal.

[26] The MARCO POLO made stops in Halifax, New York and New Jersey, Norfolk, Virginia, Savannah, Georgia, and South Carolina, before returning to Asia.

A study commissioned by the South Carolina Ports Authority projected that cruise operations could support 407 jobs and $37 million in economic benefits in 2010 in the Tri-County.

[30] To better handle ships, passengers, traffic and security requirements, SC Ports identified a need to improve and enhance the cruise terminal, which opened in 1973.

The Ports Authority began hosting meetings, telling the community on how the agency envisioned to best develop an improved cruise facility.

Through an extensive public process, including more than 100 meetings with neighbors and other stakeholder groups, the resulting Union Pier Concept Plan, which called for the refurbishment of an existing warehouse on the North end of Union Pier, was endorsed unanimously by City Council in September 2010 and approved by the City of Charleston Board of Architectural Review.