South Carolina H 3357: Shipping Transportation and Port Bridge Safety Study Committee

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 3357 Text of Previous Version (Dec. 06, 2024) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 3357

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A joint Resolution

TO CREATE THE "SHIPPING TRANSPORTATION AND PORT BRIDGE 
SAFETY STUDY COMMITTEE" TO EXAMINE CURRENT STATE AND FEDERAL SAFETY STANDARDS 
AND MEASURES CONCERNING THE NAVIGATION OF LARGE VESSELS UNDER MAJOR WATERWAY 
BRIDGES WHILE ENTERING OR LEAVING HARBORS, PORTS, AND CANALS IN THIS STATE, 
AMONG OTHER THINGS, TO REQUIRE THE STUDY COMMITTEE TO PREPARE A REPORT WITH 
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE 
MEMBERSHIP AND DURATION OF THE STUDY COMMITTEE.

Whereas, the members of 
the South Carolina General Assembly were saddened to hear of the tragic 
collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge near the Port of Baltimore after one 
of its pillars was struck by a cargo ship early March 26, 2024, creating a 
horrific mass casualty event and crippling transportation in the area; and

Whereas, according to 
news reports, the Baltimore crash was at least the second in just over a month 
in which a container ship hit a major road bridge, raising questions about the 
safety standards of increasingly large ships and the ability of bridges to withstand 
crashes; and

Whereas, according to 
news reports, a structural engineer and bridge designer opined the Baltimore 
bridge had a "lightweight" support structure and vessel protection devices in 
the water around the devices that were "not adequate"; and

Whereas, it is critical 
to the safety of South Carolinians that the integrity of its transportation 
system remains impeccable and that all reasonable efforts must be made to 
minimize any potential risks posed by container ships or other large vessels 
when traveling under bridges as they enter and leave harbors, ports, and canals 
in this State; and

Whereas, the South 
Carolina General Assembly finds it necessary and appropriate to appoint a study 
committee to review the adequacy of safety measures for ships traveling under 
bridges and through harbors, ports, and canals, as well as the adequacy of bridge 
support structures and vessel protection devices in this State. Now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the 
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. (A) 
There is created the "Shipping Transportation and Port Bridge Safety Study 
Committee" to:

 (1) examine 
current state and federal safety standards and measures concerning the 
navigation of large vessels under major waterway bridges while entering or 
leaving harbors, ports, and canals in this State, including current pilotage 
training standards and how they compare to industry best practices;

 (2) ascertain 
the extent to which bridge support piers or other bridge support structures are 
capable of withstanding impact from large vessels and the likelihood of bridge 
collapse or impassability from the loss or damage of such support structures; 
and

 (3) ascertain 
the extent to which existing ship collision barriers and other vessel 
protection devices in the water around such support structures are capable of 
averting collisions between large vessels and bridge supports.

 (B) The study 
committee shall provide a report that:

 (1) addresses 
the areas of examination set forth in subsection (A); and

 (2) makes 
recommendations for legislative, regulatory, or policy changes to address any 
identified risks posed by deficiencies or inadequacies identified in the areas 
of examination set forth in subsection (A), including enhanced pilotage 
training to ensure standards meet or exceed industry best practices.

 (C)(1) The study 
committee is composed of nine members, consisting of:

 (a) two 
members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, one of whom 
must represent a district in which a major port is located;

 (b) two 
members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House, 
one of whom must represent a district in which a major port is located;

 (c) two 
civil engineers with extensive experience with bridge design and construction 
over bodies of water;

 (d) the 
President and Chief Executive Officer of the South Carolina Ports Authority, or 
her designee;

 (e) the 
South Carolina Secretary of Transportation, or his designee; and

 (f) the 
Director of the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, or his designee.

 (2) A vacancy 
in the membership of the study committee must be filled in the manner of 
original appointment.

 (3) Members of 
the study committee shall serve without compensation, but are allowed the 
mileage, subsistence, and per diem allowed by law for members of state boards, 
committees, and commissions, to be paid equally from approved accounts of the 
House of Representatives and the Senate.

 (4) The study 
com