Safe Harbor Charleston City MegaDock Completes First Phase

Safe Harbor Charleston City is closer to completing its highly anticipated MegaDock expansion project. After a lengthy permitting process with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard, and the state of South Carolina that began nearly a decade ago, the project’s $20 million first phase is complete and the northern 1,110 feet of the MegaDock is now open to members. This first phase provides 2,220 feet of combined side-tie dockage, 744 feet of dedicated side-tie on an interior headwalk, 14 dedicated 100-foot berths, 60 dedicated 50-foot berths, and eight dedicated 80-foot berths. The project’s second phase will begin in 2025, with an additional 1,100 feet of MegaDock that will extend south creating a contiguous 2,200-foot dock. The second phase will also re-locate 1,500 feet of the legacy MegaDock to the interior of the south basin to create an interior headwalk, where all dock trees will be replaced and expanded.

“The original MegaDock was completed in 2004 and has been exceptionally successful,” said Peter Clark, chief development officer for Safe Harbor Marinas. “The need for such a facility has long been known to the city of Charleston.” With numerous entertainment, gastronomical and historic sites, and a city marina that is easily accessed from both intracoastal and offshore routes, historic Charleston has long been an attractive stop for boaters.

The MegaDock has demonstrated exceptional wave attenuation through several named storms during construction. “The pontoon system is impressively stable,” Clark said. The new MegaDock design focused on providing state-of-the-art dockside power with three dedicated 800A/480V/3Ph power points, as well as more typical 100A and 50A service feeds. Every berth on the MegaDock is equipped to deliver fuel at enhanced flow rates upwards of 150gpm. “This alone is worth the price of admission,” Clark added. “Given that a yacht can pull into their berth and not have to reposition for the duration of their stay to take on fuel.”

The team responsible for the success of the project includes a long list of professionals working under Harbormasters International, Sierras Construction, Industrial Petroleum Solutions, Electrical Supply Co, Salmons Dredging and Applied Technology and Management.

“The team of design consultants, engineers, contractors and vendors have performed as a cohesive unit and worked with a ‘Whatever It Takes’ mentality to overcome challenges presented along the way,” Clark said. Director of project development, Robbie Freeman; general manager, David Isom; and harbormaster Trey Hayes have also been instrumental in moving the renovation project further.

“We look forward to continuing the work with our team to bring home phase two,” Clark said.