Port of Long Beach – Best Seaport in North America

The Port of Long Beach was named the best seaport in North America by Cargonews Asia at the 2012 Asian Freight and Supply Chain Awards in Shanghai.

It is the 15th time in the past 17 years that the Port of Long Beach has been recognized as the best on the continent by importers, exporters, logistics and supply chain professionals.

“We are honored to be recognized by the maritime industry,” said Port of Long Beach Executive Director J. Christopher Lytle. “We strive to offer the best facilities and customer service in the world, and we thank you for your recognition. We continue to aim high and invest in our future.”

The annual Asian Freight and Supply Chain Awards, known informally as the “Shippers’ Choice” awards, is based on an annual poll of thousands of professionals in freight transportation services. It is a highly regarded distinction in the industry, and awards also are given in other categories, including best shipping lines, container terminals, air cargo terminals, airports and rail haulers.

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners recently approved a $942 million budget for fiscal year 2013, a 12 percent increase over the past year, reflecting the Port’s growing investment in its facilities and infrastructure modernization.

The new budget includes $720 million in capital spending, a 14 percent increase over fiscal year 2012, from October 1 through September 30. The growth in capital investment comes mainly from two large construction projects that have already begun at the Port: the Middle Harbor Terminal Project and preliminary work for the replacement of the Gerald Desmond Bridge.

The new budget reflects the Port’s strategy to boost business by investing aggressively in environmental and capital improvement projects while keeping operating costs in check. The 2013 budget includes $104 million in environmental infrastructure projects and other programs aimed at improving air and water quality, and cleaning soil and undersea sediments. Because of the current weakness in global trade, the spending plan also reduces non-staff related operating costs by 5 percent.

Mr. Lytle said that while the overall Port budget has increased because of infrastructure investments; it also reflects a prudent, fiscally responsible approach.  He said it is imperative that the Port operate cost efficiently while investing heavily in the future.

“We are consciously changing our mindset to one of frugality,” Lytle said. “We are trying to be smarter about all different aspects of what we do in our spending and our budget.”

Over the next decade, the Port plans to spend $4.4 billion to modernize its facilities, including Middle Harbor, which will be one of the greenest and most technologically advanced container terminals in the world.

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Dredging Today Staff, June 14, 2012