Sanford looks to mediate shrimper-port dispute

BEAUFORT — Shrimpers want a dock and refueling tank to remain open while the State Ports Authority tries to sell land at Port Royal to a developer. The Ports Authority wants to clean up the land to make it easier to sell.

Now, the governor plans to sit down with both sides to try to work out a compromise.

"We're going to talk to all the players and we're going to sit down and find solutions," said Tom Davis, chief of staff for Gov. Mark Sanford. "Everybody will be better armed with all of the facts now. There's nothing that can't be undone."

Davis met Friday with shrimpers, county Councilman D. Paul Sommerville and Ports Authority board member Colden Battey.

The Ports Authority had threatened to close the dock and tear out the 10,000-gallon tank on Monday, leaving shrimpers to unload and refuel their boats on St. Helena or Hilton Head islands.

Shrimpers protested last week by motoring their trawlers down the Beaufort River and residents and local politicians called on the governor to step in.

The Ports Authority is marketing 51 acres of waterfront property in Port Royal to private developers.

Bids this spring fell short of expectations and now the agency is sprucing up the area to attract more buyers. "A cleaner site is easier to sell," said Ports Authority spokesman Byron Miller.

The rush to close the dock and gas station follows a monthslong battle between the owner of Port Royal Seafood, the state's largest shrimp processing plant, and the Ports Authority over dock improvements and rent.

Shrimpers have been trying to work out a deal where the fueling station and dock will remain open even after the property is sold.

Craig Reaves, owner of C.J. Seafood, said shrimpers depend on refueling at Port Royal. If the tank is removed, it would be difficult to replace later because of permitting restrictions, said Reaves, who organized the shrimpers' protest.

"There's a certain amount of risk, the same as any gas station or oil refinery," said Reaves. "But there's never been an issue with it. There's no reason to take the tank out."

Last week, Atlanta-based Inland Seafood made a bid on the dock and processing plant, separate from the rest of the port.