Port of Long Beach

The Port of Long Beach, administered by the City of Long Beach, is a big place where ships bring goods from other countries. It is right next to the Port of Los Angeles and is very important for trade between the United States and Asia. The port covers a large area of 3,200 acres (which is about 13 square kilometers) and has 25 miles (or 40 kilometers) of waterfront in the city of Long Beach, California.

The Port of Long Beach is very close to the city center of Long Beach, just less than 2 miles (about 3 kilometers) away, and about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from Downtown Los Angeles. Every year, this port helps create a lot of jobs and brings in about US$100 billion in trade. It provides work for more than 316,000 people living in Southern California.

In 2022, the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles were noted for having some challenges, according to groups like the World Bank and IHS Markit. They talked about issues related to union protectionism and not using enough automation. Even with these challenges, the Port of Long Beach remains a key place for international trade and job creation.

History

Early history (1911–1960s)

The San Pedro Breakwater was started in 1899 and expanded over time to protect the current site of the Port of Long Beach. The Port of Long Beach was founded on June 24, 1911, on 800 acres of mudflats at the mouth of the Los Angeles River. In 1917, the first Board of Harbor Commissioners was formed to oversee harbor operations. Due to a booming economy, Long Beach voters approved a $5 million bond in 1924 to improve the harbor.

The old Municipal Pier was rebuilt into the Municipal Wharf in 1925. Construction began on Pier A and Pier B that same year, with Pier A opening in 1930.

By 1926, more than one million tons of cargo were handled, and more piers were built to accommodate growing business.

In 1921, oil was discovered at the Long Beach Oil Field on and around Signal Hill. In 1932, the fourth-largest oil field in the United States, the Wilmington Oil Field, was discovered, much of it underneath Long Beach and the harbor area. The oil wells from this field provided revenue to the city and port. The first offshore oil well in the harbor went online in 1937, shortly after the discovery that the oil field extended far into the harbor. In the mid-1930s, the port was expanded, largely to transport oil to foreign markets, as the huge output of oil from the Los Angeles Basin caused a surplus in US markets.

The removal of large amounts of oil caused concern for subsidence, as the land above collapsed into the empty space over time. Engineers and geologists were assigned to the problem, building dikes for flood control at high tide.

On July 3, 1930, the federal River and Harbor Act authorized expanding the San Pedro Bay breakwater by 3.5 miles, completed in 1949.

In 1930, Procter & Gamble opened a manufacturing plant on the peninsula now known as Pier C. The plant closed in 1988.

Long Beach became a home port for the United States Navy's Pacific Fleet in 1932. In 1940, the navy purchased 105 acres on Terminal Island and built the Long Beach Naval Shipyard there.

The Port and Back Channel, prior to the construction of the pontoon bridge, circa 1941

Pier 1, 1963

Piers F and J and the THUMS Islands, circa 1967-1971. The RMS Queen Mary is shown moored.

Federal Correctional Institution, Terminal Island, is a low-security prison opened in 1938.

The first bridge linking the eastern end of Terminal Island and Long Beach across the Back Channel was an unnamed "temporary" pontoon bridge constructed during World War II to accommodate traffic from the expansion of the Long Beach Naval Shipyard. In 1968, it was replaced by the Gerald Desmond Bridge.

In 1946, after World War II, the Port of Long Beach was established as "America’s most modern port" with the completion of the first of nine clear-span transit sheds. Pier E was completed and Pier B was expanded to two times its size in 1949. Pierpoint Landing completed on Pier F in 1948, becoming a large spot for sport fishing.

Concerns regarding subsidence increased until Operation "Big Squirt," a water injection program, halted any progression of sinking land in 1960.

Recent history (1970s–present)

In 1971, Pier J expansion was completed with a 55-acre container and car import terminal, becoming Toyota's Western distribution center. In 1972, International Transportation Service completed a 52-acre container terminal on Pier J with a 1,200-foot wharf and two gantry cranes. Maersk Line Pacific completed a 29-acre container terminal on Pier G. The Port of Long Beach became the largest container terminal in America.

With rapid expansion of the port, pollution also increased. The Port of Long Beach started programs to prevent and control oil spills, contain debris, and manage vessel traffic. Because of its efforts, the port was awarded the American Association of Port Authorities Environmental "E" Award. Long Beach was the first harbor in the Western Hemisphere to receive such an award.

In 1979, with improved relations between the United States and China, the port sent officials to the People’s Republic of China for the first time. Less than a year later, the China Ocean Shipping Co. (COSCO) started international shipping and designated Long Beach as its first US port of call. Relationships were built with other international powers, and South Korea's Hanjin Shipping opened a 57-acre container terminal on Pier C of the port in 1991. Following this, COSCO secured business with the Port of Long Beach in 1997.

From the late 1990s through 2011, the Port of Long Beach saw increased traffic and growth with the leasing of terminals. In 1997, approximately one million containers were inbound to the port. By 2005, this number had tripled to nearly 3.3 million containers. If outbound containers are included, the number increased from 3 million containers in 1997 to nearly 6.7 million containers in 2005.

In 2001, the U.S. Navy closed its operations at Port of Long Beach, transferring its last lot of land on Terminal Island to the Port of Long Beach. The shipyard was closed in 1997.

The surge in vessel traffic and cargo led to increased environmental efforts by the port. In 2004, the Port of Long Beach met an air pollution mandate by handling petroleum coke, one of the port's largest exports, in better ways. By using enclosed conveyors and covered storage areas, the port reduced the amount of dust emitted by the petroleum coke by 5%, down from 21% in 1997.

In 2007, the seaport banned older diesel trucks from serving the port. On October 1, 2011, the Clean Trucks Program started at the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. The program aimed to reduce air pollution from its truck fleet by 80% by 2012. Trucks built before 1987 that did not meet the 2007 clean truck standards set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency were not allowed at port terminals. In compliance with the clean truck initiative on October 1, all trucking companies doing business with the port had to have a port-approved concession outlining the rules they must follow. By September 23, 2011, nearly 500 trucking companies had applied for concessions, totaling more than 6,000 trucks.

In April 2019, COSCO Shipping-owned Orient Overseas (International) Limited announced that it would sell their Long Beach Container Terminal business to a group led by Macquarie Infrastructure Partners for $1.78 billion. The federal government required the sale of the terminal after a 2018 review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.

A US$17.1 million contract for 38 battery electric terminal tractors was awarded in April 2019 by SSA Marine, the company that manages operations at the Ports of Long Beach and Oakland; the tractors would be assembled by DINA S.A. using drivetrain components from Meritor and TransPower. That July, SSA Marine awarded a contract for automated chargers using SAE J3105-3 to Stäubli and Tritium. Delivery and installation of the tractors and chargers was completed by December 2023.

A decision in 2020 by the California Public Utilities Commission allowed building a fuel cell plant at the port to move ahead. The joint venture by Toyota and FuelCell Energy would produce power and hydrogen from natural gas.

In 2021, the port had trouble processing container ships. Eighty-six container ships had to wait outside the port. In 2022, the port, together with the adjoining Port of Los Angeles, were considered among the world's least efficient ports by the World Bank and IHS Markit, citing union protectionism and a lack of automation.

Pier Wind, which would be used for the assembly of offshore wind turbines, was announced in 2023. A 400-acre terminal area would be built on new land made from dredged material for assembling the tall structures. The turbine systems would be floated into an adjacent wet storage area before being towed out to sea.

Economy

The Port of Long Beach helps bring in almost $100 billion each year from goods coming in and going out. It creates jobs, brings money for taxes, and helps stores and factories. Over $800 million a year is spent on moving goods in the city. In the City of Los Angeles, the port helps provide more than 230,000 jobs and supports over $10 billion a year in moving goods.

The port uses a special path called the Alameda Corridor to send train cars north to Los Angeles. In 2024, about 28 percent of the containers left the port by train. The port is building more train tracks so that by 2032, at least 38 percent of containers will leave by rail.

Environment

The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach create a lot of air pollution in the Los Angeles area. Both ports have started many programs to help reduce pollution while still growing.

In 2005, the Port of Long Beach created the Green Port Policy to help protect nature, improve air and water, and keep the port healthy. In 2007, the port started the Clean Air Action Plan with the Port of Los Angeles to make the air cleaner. This plan helped by stopping old, dirty trucks from using the port. The port also started a program to help ships slow down, which helps the air stay cleaner. The port has also given money to help protect important natural areas.

Governance

The Port of Long Beach is run by the City of Long Beach. The city made a special group called the Long Beach Harbor Department to help grow and manage the port.

There is a group of five people called the Board of Harbor Commissioners who decide the rules for the port. They are chosen by the Mayor of Long Beach and approved by the City Council. They can stay in their jobs for up to two six-year periods. Every July, they switch who is the president and vice president of the group, and each person holds that job for one year.

Board of Harbor Commissioners

Harbor Commissioners

Community relations

The Port of Long Beach organizes many events to connect with the local community and nearby towns. One big yearly event is the Green Port Fest, which started in 2005. During this family festival, visitors can see how the port works and learn about its environmental and safety programs. There are fun activities like boat tours and interactive exhibits.

The port also offers free boat tours in the summer. These tours last 90 minutes and let people see the port up close. The port holds meetings called "Let’s Talk Port" where people can come and ask questions. Additionally, graduating seniors from Long Beach Polytechnic High School can apply for scholarships to help pay for college if they plan to study international trade or other port-related subjects. These scholarships are also offered to students at Long Beach City College and California State University, Long Beach.

Security

Command and Control Center

In February 2009, the Port opened a command center that cost $21 million. This center was built to save energy and follow the port's rules for being environmentally friendly.

Harbor Patrol

The Long Beach Harbor Patrol is a team of trained officers who help keep the Port of Long Beach safe. They watch over the port's facilities and roads, answer calls for help, and can go to any part of the port.

The Harbor Patrol also uses cameras, special underwater tools, dive teams, and other technology to make sure the port stays secure and running smoothly.