The busy wharves at Port of Long Beach generate $200 billion in trade annually and are connected to 2.6 million US jobs. In 2022, these terminals handled more than 1.4 million TEUs of exports, making it the nation’s leading export port for a second consecutive year.
“Port of Long Beach has been successful thanks to our two-pronged objective of maintaining commercial growth and environmental stewardship,” explained Chief Operating Officer Dr Noel Hacegaba. “We have demonstrated a commitment to operational excellence, preparation for
future challenges and the strategic management of resources.
“Our long-term dedication to remain competitive and environmentally responsible has made us an industry leader that shares a common goal with the Biden Administration to enact policies related to climate change and reducing harmful emissions.”
Steady growth
The Port of Long Beach is a public agency and is the Harbor Department of the City of Long Beach. The port manages almost 12 square miles of land, leasing it to private firms who operate the terminal facilities.
This is one of the few US ports that can welcome today’s largest vessels, serving 175 shipping lines with connections to 217 seaports around the world. Goods moving
through the Port of Long Beach originate in, or are destined for, every congressional district in the United States. In 2022, the port experienced its second-busiest year ever, with over 9.1 million TEUs moved.
To maintain this leading position, the Port of Long Beach’s capital investment programme continues to outpace its competitors in North America. The port has $2.2 billion in terminal, rail and other infrastructure improvements planned during the next 10 years to enhance capacity, competitiveness and sustainability.
“This programme includes a critical channel deepening project that will help move cargo more efficiently,” explained Dr Hacegaba. “The project will also allow us to welcome newer, cleaner and more efficient cargo vessels. The Port of Long Beach and the federal government will share the costs, estimated at almost $200 million.
Among other features, the project includes deepening the Long Beach Approach Channel from 76ft to 80ft and easing turning bends in the Main Channel by deepening a wider area to 76ft. The work will dredge parts of the West Basin from 50ft to 55ft deep, construct an approach channel and turning basin to Pier J South with a depth of 55ft, and
will deposit dredged material in nearshore sites for refuse or in federally approved ocean disposal sites.
Enhanced movement of goods
A key project is the Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility, with construction scheduled to start in March 2024. This upgrade is designed to switch more cargo to on-dock rail, where the shipping containers are taken to and from marine terminals by trains.
“The project will help the Port of Long Beach stay competitive and meet our environmental targets,” Dr Hacegaba said. “This enables railroads to assemble longer trains that will move goods more efficiently into and out of the Port, while also limiting truck traffic.
“The $1.57 billion facility will be built in phases, with construction scheduled for completion in 2032. This project will literally keep us on track for the future.”
Alongside these capital projects, there is a parallel investment in personnel. The Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach Goods Movement Training Campus is designed to provide a single, central location aimed at attracting, recruiting and retaining workers in the goods movement sector.
The state of California has pledged $110 million to help fund the nation’s first training facility specifically devoted to supply chain workers. The 20-acre facility, expected to open by 2029, is a partnership between the Port of Los Angeles, the Port of Long Beach, the California Workforce Development Board, the ILWU and the Pacific Maritime Association.
Sustainable partnerships
With the motto ‘Port of Choice’, the Port of Long Beach has a single goal in mind –world-class customer service – which for
its business partners means moving cargo more efficiently and at a competitive cost.
“Customers choose the Port of Long Beach because we are dependable, cost-effective and ensure the fastest delivery of goods in the world,” continued Dr Hacegaba. “We are also chosen because of our strong relationships with industry, community, environmental advocates and partner agencies.
“In the years ahead, we see opportunities to continue improving on the operational excellence that has gotten us to our industry-leading position as the premier gatewayfortradebetweentheUSandAsia.”
The efficient operation of the Port of Long Beach is enhanced by the digital Supply Chain Information Highway. Developed in 2021, through a partnership with leading St Louis-based tech firm, UNCOMN, this system is designed to maximise efficiency in cargo movement. The Supply Chain Information Highway enables shippers to track their cargo from departure to destination, providing partners with access to the necessary data to plan, schedule and track cargo containers.
“With the digital infrastructure project now in Phase Two, we are focusing on enhancing
the system’s interoperability, particularly among other seaports,” Dr Hacegaba explained. “The Port of Oakland, the Northwest Seaport Alliance, the Utah Inland Port Authority, PortMiami, the South Carolina Ports Authority, the Port of New York and New Jersey, and the Port of Hueneme have agreed to collaborate with the project. Ultimately, our vision for the Supply Chain Information Highway is to enable end-to-end visibility and coastto-coast connectivity.”
The Port of Long Beach is committed to achieving zero-emissions cargo handling by 2030 and zero-emissions trucking by 2035. “We're also working on an exciting new project, the proposed floating offshore wind facility known as Pier Wind,” Dr Hacegaba said. “This ambitious project will also involve us becoming the nation’s largest facility to support assembling offshore wind turbines.
“Pier Wind will help California harness the power of natural ocean breezes to generate renewable energy at a lower cost, while enhancing air quality by reducing reliance on fossil fuels. The enormous wind turbines that will be built at the facility will stand as tall as the Eiffel Tower and be used
to meet California's goal of producing 25 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2045.”
Other projects include developing green shipping corridors to reduce emissions and improve efficiencies along major trans-Pacific trade routes. These corridors will develop digital shipping tools to drive efficiency, demonstrate innovative vessel technologies and increase the availability of sustainable fuels.
“Fundamentally, a big part of our future is finding ways to get more productivity out of the port,” Dr Hacegaba said. “We’ll continue to advocate for 24/7 operations to match our partner ports in Asia. After all, we live in a world where a consumer can order products online at 4pm or 4am.
“What excites me most about my job is having the opportunity to meet leaders from all industries and sectors,” he concluded. “Our team of smart, talented and dedicated people work on projects to improve the global supply chain and the US economy.” n
