Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal—A Mega Project Success Nearly 20 Years in the Making

The South Carolina Ports Authority’s (SCPA) Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal (HLT) is the first container terminal to open in the United States since 2009. The project spanned nearly 20 years and cost almost $1 billion to open. The site development phase of the project began in 2018 and consisted of major terminal development required to complete the project, including multiple construction, equipment, and professional services agreements totaling over $430 million. However, the timeline for this phase coincided with unprecedented challenges in the construction market, as well as the global supply chain. Through the use of innovative procurement and contracting strategies and constant coordination with the design team, local stakeholders, state and federal agencies, tenants, and contractors, the SCPA ultimately delivered the terminal on time and under budget. This paper discusses some of the specific challenges faced during site development and strategies used to overcome them.