Port expected to reopen Tuesday after software-plagued Monday

[TUESDAY UPDATE] As of 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, officials with the S.C. State Ports Authority (SCSPA] said cargo operations remained closed as they were “working through some issues bringing our gate systems back up.” They said an update would be issued at 10 a.m.

On Monday, the S.C. State Ports Authority (SCSPA) interrupted shipping operations all day after an apparent software issue prompted hours of delays for truckers.

Operations, however, are expected to reopen 5 a.m. Tuesday, according to the agency’s fifth update on the confusing situation.

“SC Ports is working diligently to reintroduce systems following a vendor software issue that impacted a server. This is a fluid situation, and we will communicate any changes. Please frequently monitor this post on scspa.com for updates,” the statement said.

The agency said it would offer extended gate hours to facilitate handling and flow of cargo.

On Sunday night, the ports announced a closure that likely would result in operations reopening Monday morning. But a 1 p.m. Monday message hinted at a much longer delay: “As we progress to operations fully resuming, we do not anticipate systems being fully functional for the remainder of today at all SC Ports marine terminals and inland ports. No cargo pick up or drop off will occur during this time.”

The agency also said no cargo pick-up or drop-off would occur by the end of the business day. The port’s terminals normally open at 5 a.m. on weekdays.

Big computer problems

The software problem apparently impacted the agency’s servers, halting operations at marine terminals and inland ports, according to the Sunday message.

“S.C. Ports is working to resume operations as quickly as possible,” the website’s message said. “We are reintroducing systems as they become available.”

The SCSPA also said Sunday that the software issue did not appear to be a cybersecurity issue, but officials have not released further details.

The S.C. Department of Transportation said traffic delays in the area would be possible due to the backup of shipping vehicles, especially during peak travel intervals and especially on Interstate 526. A backup near Long Point Road caused by several shipping trucks cleared by 1:45 p.m., according to media reports, as truckers received word that the terminal would not reopen by the end of the day.

Three ships were scheduled to dock at Wando Welch on Monday: ONE Wren, Maersk Innoshima and Long Beach Express. The three ships were moored at the terminal, according to vesseltracker.com. Two more ships, Alula Express and Gerda Maersk, are scheduled to arrive on May 22. They are both anchored off the coast of South Carolina. The BSG Bahamas was scheduled to dock in North Charleston Monday evening, and two more ships, Maersk Visby and OOL Brussels, are scheduled to arrive Tuesday.

This is a developing story. Follow Charleston City Paper for more details.