Georgia is several steps ahead of South Carolina in the battle to cash in on a projected surge in cargo shipping. But Palmetto State officials seem intent on quarreling among themselves instead of getting a jump on a competitor.

The South Carolina battle started some years ago when Jasper County set out to improve its economic base by partnering with one of the nation's largest shipping companies, Seattle-based SSA Marine, to build a port on the Savannah River. Jasper County's plan was crippled by an S.C. Supreme Court decision in 2003 that said its deal with the private shipping company didn't show a compelling public interest, but it left the door open for the county to revise its plan.

During the years that this project has been discussed, Jasper officials have become distrustful of State Ports Authority, which has developed a reputation as a big, gruff bureaucracy hell-bent on doing business its own way.

A year ago, innuendo was flying about the status of a new port. The Ports Authority said it was interested in the same 1,800 acres that Jasper County officials coveted for a container port. South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford and Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue talked but nothing was made public.

A year passed, and Jasper County officials, either frustrated or impatient, offered the Georgia Department of Transportation $9.2 million for the property. Jasper set a

Jan. 20 deadline for a decision before seeking condemnation.

On Jan. 19, in a move designed to keep its standing in the case, the Ports Authority board asked the S.C. Supreme Court to declare that the SPA, not Jasper County, has the authority to negotiate for a port.

Instead of fighting battles before judges and justices, valuable momentum and money should be focused on whether a port can be built in Jasper County and how fast.

Jasper officials seem to have the right idea: Move ahead. Tom Davis of Beaufort, the Ports Authority's newest board member, said that has been happening. Jasper officials rightly think that others are usurping their power and their franchise to provide economic growth for the poor, rural county.

In its role as David, Jasper County has stepped up Goliath's pace -- on the surface anyway. The Supreme Court may solidify Goliath's power, but Jasper County has earned a spot at the negotiating table. Without prodding, the Ports Authority may have dawdled when a sprint was necessary.

Beaufort businessmen and women heard last month that a new port could create 300 high-paying jobs and the potential for 3,000 spin-off jobs, bringing huge economic growth to Jasper and Georgia.

Already six of the 12 top U.S. importers have distribution centers near Savannah. The Sierra Club of Georgia estimates others will arrive. The Business Report and Journal reports that Savannah Economic Development Authority has bought several hundred acres between Georgia 21 and the Savannah River to make way for anticipated growth from shipping from Asia.

This activity alone shows that the Ports Authority, the

S.C. Department of Commerce and Jasper County should be cooperating instead of creating diversions.

For Jasper residents, cooperation makes sense for a number of reasons:

Georgia isn't going to give up without a fight;

A long court fight is expensive;

The state has the legal firepower;

the Ports Authority has the background in port operations;

SSA Marine has indicated it doesn't care whether it partners with the state or Jasper County.

The Ports Authority has said publicly that it wants to move forward quickly and that it will put the resources into the effort. The problem is that Jasper residents and officials are skeptical given the track record.

It doesn't make sense for people who want the same thing to fight each other, when the battle with a competing state will be difficult enough.