USA: Port of Los Angeles OKs “Pier 300” Container Terminal Expansion

The Los Angeles Harbor Commission today certified the final Environmental Impact Report for the proposed expansion of Berths 302-306 and approved the project that will modernize the container terminal operated by long-time tenant Eagle Marine Services, Ltd., a subsidiary of ocean carrier APL.

Due to begin in late 2012, the two-year marine terminal redevelopment project at the facility commonly known as “Pier 300” is expected to generate nearly 3,400 jobs during construction and add nearly 8,000 permanent direct and indirect jobs to the Southern California economy over the next 15 years. Green innovations include equipping the entire terminal with Alternative Marine Power (AMP) electrical infrastructure to eliminate emissions from ships at berth and other San Pedro Bay Clean Air Action Plan measures.

“Our investment in green growth continues to pay huge economic and social dividends,” said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. “This project ensures the Port has the world-class infrastructure to remain competitive in the global marketplace, and everyone benefits — our customers, our markets and our communities.”

“We are pleased that we were able to partner with Eagle Marine Services to move this much-needed project forward,” said Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commission President Cindy Miscikowski. “This project reflects our increasing success in evaluating major Port development projects in a responsible and timely manner while upholding the highest environmental standards.”

“This project strengthens APL’s ability to continue providing the level and quality of service to meet our customers’ needs into the future,” said Gene Seroka, APL’s Regional President of the Americas. “It represents the progressive approach that the City and the Port of Los Angeles take to working with their business partners.”

“The Port of Los Angeles is investing approximately $1.2 billion over the next five years in capital improvement projects, including almost $200 million at the APL facility,” said Port Executive Director Geraldine Knatz, Ph.D. “We’re making sure that we optimize our facilities, green our operations and build on the advantages that make us America’s No. 1 trade gateway.”

The $196 million project at the Port’s second-largest terminal will maximize use of the property by allowing APL to handle nearly 58 percent more ship calls and accommodate more than 65 percent more cargo, while growing the terminal footprint less than 20 percent. The percentages translate into up to 390 ship calls and the capacity to move more than 3.2 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units or 20-foot containers) annually by 2027 on a 347-acre terminal.

Much of the work on the Eagle Marine Services terminal will be at Berth 306, where the Port will add 1,250 feet of new wharf and 41 acres of backlands on existing fill. Eagle Marine Services will add eight state-of-the-art gantry cranes that span the width of the largest container ships in the global fleet. The number of cranes throughout the terminal will double, bringing the total to 24.

Other major elements are gate and lane upgrades to include a new exit gate; improved access and internal circulation for trucks to pick up and deliver cargo more efficiently; a dedicated refrigerated container storage area; renovated maintenance and new office facilities; and modern backland design and infrastructure that could support automated operations in the future.

Key environmental measures incorporated into the project and ongoing terminal operations include:

– AMP requirement for 70 percent of APL ships to run on electricity at berth by 2017 and increasing to 95 percent by 2026;

– Requirements for APL to seek the maximum number of clean ships calling at its terminal;

– Increased participation in Vessel Speed Reduction Program — ships slowing to 12 knots within 40 nautical miles of the Port – for all vessels calling at the terminal to achieve 95 percent participation by 2014;

– Use of the cleanest available equipment during construction, including electric dredging harbor craft; and the greenest available yard equipment for daily terminal operations;

– Operational and terminal design measures to keep truck traffic flowing and reduce idling to less than 30 minutes total per truck;

– New offices built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards;

– A Port contribution of more than $4.2 million to the Port Community Mitigation Trust Fund for collaborative projects that reduce the cumulative environmental impacts of Port-related operations on neighboring communities.

The Eagle Marine Services expansion project is the Port’s third major container terminal redevelopment moving forward under strict environmental standards set forth in the San Pedro Bay Clean Air Action Plan. Overall, the Port is investing approximately $1.2 billion over the next five years – the equivalent of approximately $1 million per day – to optimize its facilities, green its operations, and build on the competitive advantages that make it America’s No. 1 trade gateway.

The Port of Los Angeles is America’s premier port and has a strong commitment to developing innovative strategic and sustainable operations that benefit the economy as well as the quality of life for the region and the nation it serves. As the leading seaport in North America in terms of shipping container volume and cargo value, the Port supports more than 830,000 regional jobs and $35 billion in annual wages and tax revenues.

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Dredging Today Staff, June 8, 2012; Image: portoflosangeles