Harbor Commissioners News

HDR to Lead $870M Rail Project at PoLB

The Port of Long Beach, one of the greenest ports in the world, has selected HDR to perform the final design as it moves ahead with its $870 million effort to streamline rail operations and reduce bottlenecks at the second-busiest container port in the U.S.The Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility Project will expand the port’s capability for loading shipping containers directly on rail cars instead of being loaded on trucks for short-haul trips. The expansion and reconfiguration of the existing Pier B railyard will create a staging area for loading freight trains nearly 2 miles long…

Ships Slow Down for Cleaner Air

More than 135 shipping lines at the Port of Long Beach recently were lauded for voluntarily participating in the Port’s Green Flag Incentive Program, which offers financial incentives for cargo vessels to slow down near the port to reduce air pollution.Ocean carriers were recently presented with Green Flags for opting into the environmental initiative last year by slowing ships to 12 knots or less within 20 or 40 nautical miles of the Port of Long Beach.The Green Flag Incentive Program was initiated by the Port in 2005.

Long Beach Port Awards Scholarships

The U.S. gateway for trans-Pacific trade Port of Long Beach announced $100,000 in scholarships for 77 local college and high school students as part of a dramatically expanded and acclaimed education outreach effort. The students receiving the scholarships were recognized at the Port’s sixth-annual “Celebrating Education” event, along with the Port’s 25 incoming high school summer interns, and the 22 local teachers who were trained in engineering education earlier this year as part of the Port's externship program.

Ports Part of Solution, Not the Problem - BPA Chair

Martin Lawlor, Chief Executive at the Port of Blyth and Chair of the British Ports Association: "Ports part of the solution, not the problem on a range of challenges facing the UK."A record turnout of over 300 guests gathered in London today for the British Ports Association’s annual lunch and AGM, which struck an optimistic tone about the role of ports in supporting a range of economic and environmental goals.Maritime Minister Nusrat Ghani MP, speaking at the lunch, said: “Ports are key to the vitality of the UK economy – underpinning regional and national growth.

Long Beach: Course Set for Ops Excellence

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners this week approved an updated Strategic Plan for the Port of Long Beach, laying out the key goals and objectives for the nation’s second-busiest container seaport.As one of the most successful seaports in the world, the Port of Long Beach aims to continue its leadership in customer service, environmental stewardship, security and community partnership.

Port of Long Beach Powers 20% of Local Jobs

New study reports significant growth in economic impact. The Port of Long Beach is connected to one in five jobs in Long Beach, sustaining a local workforce that continues to drive economic growth across the region, according to a new Economic Impact Study prepared for the Port and presented Monday to the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners. As the nation’s second-busiest container seaport, activity at the Port supports 51,090 jobs in Long Beach alone, according to the Economic Impact Study completed by EDR Group Inc.

Commissioner Herrera Takes Helm - Oxnard Harbor District

The Port of Hueneme has welcomed new leadership, as the Board of Harbor Commissioners unanimously voted Jess Herrera to serve as President for 2019.President Herrera was first elected to the Board in 1994, and has been the longest consecutively serving Commissioner in Port history with 2019 as his 25th year of service. Herrera has a long history of serving his community including 10 terms as Executive Officer of the Internal Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), as well as serving 8 terms as Chairman of the ILWU’s Southern California Regional Jurisdiction Committee…

Long Beach Port to Add Trains to Improve Cargo Movement

The Port of Long Beach received a $14 million grant from the Trade Corridor Enhancement Program (TCEP) to offset construction costs for a $25 million rail project to increase efficiency and reduce local traffic.The grant will fund the port's Pier G and J Double Track Access Project, which is designed to allow for better use of the on-dock rail yards at Piers G and J. It will help pay for improvements to freight corridors across California using designated transportation funds…

Rail Project at Port of Long Beach Wins $14 Million Grant

Added access for trains will improve cargo movement.The Port of Long Beach has been awarded a $14 million grant to help pay for construction of a planned rail project that will increase efficiency while also reducing traffic congestion on local streets and freeways. The grant is from the Trade Corridor Enhancement Program, which helps pay for improvements to freight corridors across California using designated transportation funds from Senate Bill 1 and the National Highway Freight Program.

Port of Los Angeles Issues Statement on Box Incident

The following information was released by the Port of Los Angeles:Because our facilitation of a safe and secure supply chain is top priority at the Port of Los Angeles, the incident involving an export-bound shipping container that exploded inside a marine terminal storage area here on October 30 is of paramount concern to the Los Angeles Harbor Department and Los Angeles Port Police. Preliminary analysis by the Los Angeles Port Police Hazardous Materials Unit, Los Angeles Police…

Port of Long Beach Joins World Ports Climate Action Program

The Port of Long Beach and six other international seaports recognized for advancing innovative environmental initiatives are combining forces to launch the "World Ports Climate Action Program."Long Beach will join port authorities in Los Angeles; Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Hamburg, Germany; Barcelona, Spain; Antwerp, Belgium; and Vancouver, Canada in developing projects to address global warming and meet the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement, a United Nations-led effort…

San Pedro Bay Ports Ready Cleaner Truck Rules

New trucks entering service at the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles as of October 1, 2018, must be model year 2014 or newer, as the San Pedro Bay ports move forward with efforts to improve air quality and reduce the health impacts of air pollution.As part of the Clean Trucks Program, all trucks going into marine terminals in the two ports must be on the Port Drayage Truck Registry (PDTR). The new requirement applies only to trucks registering in the PDTR for the first time. Trucks that are already registered as of Sept.

Port of Long Beach Awarded $50 Mln for Zero Emissions Project

The drive toward cleaner goods movement continues on the U.S. West Coast. The Port of Long Beach announced Tuesday it has received preliminary approval for a $50 million grant from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to demonstrate a near-zero and zero-emissions supply chain at the nation’s second-busiest seaport.CARB has preliminarily awarded the grant for the Sustainable Terminals Accelerating Regional Transformation (START) Project, which will demonstrate nearly 100 pieces of zero-emissions terminal equipment and trucks at three California seaports…

Long Beach Harbor Commission to Appoint Co-Deputy Executive Directors

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners is expected to vote at its meeting on Monday, Aug. 27, to name Richard D. Cameron as the Port of Long Beach’s new Deputy Executive Director of Planning and Development and Dr. Noel Hacegaba as the Port’s new Deputy Executive Director of Administration and Operations. Cameron and Hacegaba have served the Port in several capacities for many years and bring a comprehensive blend of industry experience and community relationships to the organization.

Long Beach Approves Toyota's Green Terminal Makeover

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners has given Toyota Logistics Services the green light to carry out a proposed major terminal upgrade project that includes the construction of a renewable energy fuel-cell power plant and hydrogen fueling station.The planned redevelopment aims to improve efficiency at the Toyota-operated marine terminal at Long Beach's Pier B, where new automobiles are offloaded from ships, processed and transported off-site via truck and railroad.Work on the private project…

Hehr Named Security Director at Port of Long Beach

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners has appointed Casey Hehr to lead the Security Division at the nation’s second-busiest seaport.Hehr has been with the Port of Long Beach since November 2016, serving as the Assistant Director of Security. He has been the acting director of the division since March, following the retirement of the previous director.Prior to his position at the Port, Hehr served with the U.S. Coast Guard for more than 20 years, retiring as the Chief of Operations and Response for the Los Angeles-Long Beach Sector.

'Maritime Center of Excellence' Launched in Long Beach

Port of Long Beach and Long Beach City College leaders officially launched an new program this week to provide opportunities to local students seeking the employment skills they need to join the goods movement workforce.The Port of Long Beach Maritime Center of Excellence at Long Beach City College will target a variety of programs for occupations in the global logistics and supply chain industries that require more education than a high school diploma, but less than a four-year college degree.The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners recently approved $60…

California Port to Vote on Hydrogen Fuelling

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners is scheduled to vote Monday, Aug. 13, on a proposal by Toyota Logistics Services to reconfigure its facility at Pier B and build a renewable fuel-cell power plant and hydrogen fueling station.The study being released by the Port is called an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND), meaning that no substantial evidence was found that the project would have a significant effect on the environment.Public comment on the proposal…

Long Beach to Vote on Toyota Terminal Renovation

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners is scheduled to vote Monday, August 13, on a proposal by Toyota Logistics Services to reconfigure its facility at Pier B and build a renewable fuel-cell power plant and hydrogen fueling station.The study being released by the Port is called an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND), meaning that no substantial evidence was found that the project would have a significant effect on the environment. Public comment on the…

San Pedro Bay Begins Push for Zero-Emissions

Harbor Commissioners for the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles have approved measures to ensure new trucks just entering drayage service meet the cleanest engine standards, a step designed to accelerate the reduction of harmful air emissions from trucks. The move will require new trucks that visit marine terminals to be 2014 model year or newer. The requirement takes effect Oct. 1, 2018, and applies only to trucks that are not currently registered in the Ports Drayage Truck Registry (PDTR). The Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners approved the tariff amendment on June 21.

Jaime Sworn in as L.A. Harbor Commission President

Jaime L. Lee, the newest Los Angeles Harbor Commissioner, has been elected president of the Los Angeles Harbor Commission. Lee was appointed by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and confirmed by the Los Angeles City Council last week. “I’m humbled to join my fellow harbor commissioners and serve as president of this important commission,” said Lee. “I look forward to working with all port stakeholders and staff as I continue the efforts of my predecessor to further enhance North…

MacLellan wins Stanley T. Olafson Award

The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce announced today that Jim MacLellan, director of trade development for the Port of Los Angeles, will be awarded the prestigious Stanley T. Olafson award at the 92nd annual World Trade Week Kickoff Breakfast on Friday, May 4. Appointed as the director of trade development for the Port of Los Angeles in 2007, Jim MacLellan is responsible for trade programs to encourage increased trade through the Port of Los Angeles and the Southern California Gateway.

New Long Beach Harbor Commissions Confirmed

The Long Beach City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to confirm Mayor Robert Garcia’s appointments of Frank Colonna and Bonnie Lowenthal to the Board of Harbor Commissioners. Colonna and Lowenthal are both former City Council members; Lowenthal is also a former state Assembly member and Long Beach Unified School District Board Member. Colonna will fill the seat of Commissioner Doug Drummond, who was appointed to a partial term of four years in 2011 and was reappointed in 2015, with the intent to retire in August 2017. Colonna’s term runs into 2021.

Bynum Elected Harbor Commission President

Egoscue named Vice President of Port's governing Board. The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners elected Lou Anne Bynum as its new Board President and Tracy Egoscue as Vice President on Monday, July 24, in the annual selection of Board Officers. The Board also voted Lori Ann Guzmán as Secretary of the Board. Composed of Long Beach residents, the Board oversees the Port of Long Beach. Guzmán has served as Board President, and Bynum as Vice President, for the past two years. “It’s an honor to be chosen as President,” Bynum said.

New Comms Director at Port of Long Beach

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners on Thursday approved the selection of Kerry Gerot to lead the Port’s Communications and Community Relations Division. The appointment is effective August 19. Gerot is currently the Public Affairs Officer for the Long Beach City Manager’s Office, a position she has held for almost three years. As Director of Communications and Community Relations for the Port, she will oversee media relations, crisis communications, community engagement and educational outreach at the Harbor Department.

West Coast Intermodal Update: Mario Cordero

POLB Executive Director Mario Cordero weighs in from his new West Coast chair, on the most pressing issues of the day. Arguably the industry authority from both the regulatory and commercial sides of the equation, his opinion carries weight and, sometimes, surprises. It has been a busy year at the port of Long Beach, Calif. Lou Anne Bynum, Harbor Commission President at the Port of Long Beach, declared in early October, “Simply put, we are having the best trade months in port history.” Indeed, the port moved more containers last month than in any September in its history.