Charleston, SC - One ship has set sail, but will others follow? There is still no agreement to keep the port authorities biggest customer docked, but one of Maersk's ships has left for good.
 
That means business could take a hit for the port, truckers, retailers, and even tug boat operators. The Maersk ship pulled out for good and left about two hours ago. Now some local businesses are bracing for the worst.

Maersk's first ship to permanently depart Charleston is creating rough waters for some Lowcountry businesses. Pat Barber owns Superior Transportation with more than 30 trucks, many bringing cargo in and out of Charleston’s port. One less ship means bad business for Barber.

“Just from a trucking perspective, what I do, that’s two or three hundred fewer truck moves a week per vessel,” said Barber. “That’s 300 fewer jobs per say a week for my company or another company like mine to handle.”

 “It will affect everybody that has to do with the waterfront, whether it's line handlers, ILA, tug boat crews, it's going to effect everybody,” said Barber.
The states port authority officials say the departure is a hit to the states economy.

“Every ship that comes into the Port of Charleston means millions of dollars to the local economy through employment, as well as the money re-spent here and all the companies that rely on that ship to get that cargo overseas,” said S.C. Port Authority Spokesman, Byron Miller.

While businesses like Pat Barber deal with the departure, there's still hope.

“The port is hurting, certainly not dead, by any means,” said Barber.

Many like Barber still have hope that this boat is the last to sail away for good.

Port authority officials say they are still in talks with Maersk to get them to stay. The contract is set to expire in 2010. Port authority officials say this ship carried mostly clothing apparel from Central America and the port is currently looking for another carrier to replace it.