Port of Charleston terminal reopens after dirty bomb scare

JUNE 15, 2017 — The Port of Charleston’s Wando Terminal has reopened following a dirty bomb scare that had seen the terminal evacuated and a safety zone imposed around it.

The U.S. Coast Guard 7th District Southeast says that, at approximately 8 p.m. yesterday authorities were made aware of a potential threat in a container aboard the containership Maersk Memphis in the Port of Charleston.

A unified command was established to oversee the coordinated response.

The unified command identified four containers aboard the Maersk Memphis where the threat was posed. The containers were scanned and cleared.

By approximately 3.30 a.m. this morning it was determined that there was no existing threat to the Port of Charleston and the safety zone around the Wando terminal was lifted.

“The original reporting source of the threat in the Port of Charleston has been detained by authorities for further questioning,” says the Coast Guard.