CHARLESTON, S.C. - The State Ports Authority announced Tuesday it has received three proposals to participate with the authority in developing a $545 million steamship terminal at the old Charleston Naval Base.

Those proposals involve nine steamship companies and terminal operators, the authority said.

The agency said several issues will be considered in reviewing the proposals. They include commitment to the state, financial terms, the length of the agreement and the cargo volume projections.

The names of the companies were not released because of pending contract negotiations.

The agency said it would begin any needed follow-up discussions within the next two months. It said it would then negotiate a contract based on the most favorable proposal.

About 400 people turned out last month for a public hearing on the draft environmental impact statement on the project. The impact statement was compiled as part of the process for issuing permits.

The authority has proposed three berths with a total length of 3,500 feet at the old base along with about 200 acres of container storage and processing.

The public comment period on the draft impact statement ends next week.