NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1977 SESSION

CHAPTER 1285

HOUSE BILL 1596

AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR DESIGN AND FEASIBILITY STUDIES AT THE WILMINGTON TERMINAL OF THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE PORTS AUTHORITY.

Whereas, an ever increasing degree of cargo is being shipped by container; and

Whereas, the volume of container shipping at the Wilmington terminal is outstripping the capacity of the present port facilities, as well as the container facilities under construction; and

Whereas, market studies project significant growth for container shipping over the next several years and beyond; and

Whereas, the majority of current container traffic and shipping revenue from within North Carolina is going to adjacent competitive ports because of inadequate facilities at our own ports; and

Whereas, those competitive ports are expanding their facilities even further; and

Whereas, expanded container facilities at Wilmington are essential to the maintenance of a competitive position with southeastern Atlantic ports and the desire to keep revenue generated from North Carolina shippers within the State; and

Whereas, the health of the State's ports, the State's efforts for economic development and its position in the international shipping community are closely linked; and

Whereas, because of the long lead time, design studies for new facilities must begin immediately in order to bring expansion facilities on line at the earliest possible date; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  There is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Commerce, North Carolina State Ports Authority, for the fiscal year 1978-79 the sum of one hundred fifteen thousand dollars ($115,000) for:

A)        Berth C - Design Update                                                       $    65,000

B)        North Expansion Area - Feasibility Studies                                 100,000

Subtotal                                                                           $   165,000

Less Ports Authority Receipts                                             $     50,000

Total General Fund                                                             $   115,000

Sec. 2.  This act shall become effective on July 1, 1978.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 16th day of June, 1978.