Vessel Viewing from Under the Ravenel Bridge

 

My exploration of places to see the big ships of Charleston took me recently to Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park. 

I was hoping to see at least one huge container ship steam by on the Cooper River heading into port or going the other direction out to sea. 

It was a pretty day for photography, right? My plan was to first visit a store in Mount Pleasant and then go to the park. But as I drove on the bridge I could see a container ship heading my way. So I called an audible and hurried to park at the park. 

My hustle paid off as I arrived in time to see a Maersk shipping line vessel approaching the bridge. 

I’m interested in capturing images that show the massive scale of these ocean-faring ships that transport thousands of containers each voyage around the world. 

Happy Birthday Ravenel Bridge!

 

Our visit Sunday, June 22 to the Ravenel Bridge coincided (somewhat) with next month’s 20th anniversary of the 2.5 mile span’s opening. The $632 million structure, with its two distinctive Diamond-shaped towers, opened to car traffic on July 16, 2005. What an asset the bridge is in so many ways. It replaced two outdated spans and includes four lanes for cars plus lanes for walkers and bicyclists. 

Back in 2005 I covered a big event days before the new bridge opened to car traffic. For two days people could walk on the eight-lane span. I produced a multi- media report using still photographs, audio interviews, music and text. I was assisted with the project by my son Joseph and Kristen Van Dyke, who was a College of Charleston student of mine back then. Kristen went on to have a successful career as a meteorologist. She is currently a meteorologist in Salt Lake City with KSLTV. My son Joseph also has a successful career in software engineering and design. Click above to see the report we produced. 

The bridge is named for Arthur Ravenel, Jr. (1927-2023). He was an iconic, impactful and colorful Lowcountry political figure from a prominent French Huguenot family. He was instrumental in securing funding for the massive construction project.

This picture commemorating the Ravenel Bridge opening in 2005 has had a spot in one of our bathrooms for two decades. The Post and Courier newspaper gave it to subscribers. 

The expanded Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park, situated beneath the bridge, opened in recent weeks. I was curious to see it and on this warm early summer Sunday it was busy.