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Jon Slangerup News

09 Sep 2016

Port of Long Beach CEO Resigns

Jon Slangerup (Photo: Port of Long Beach)

Port of Long Beach CEO Jon Slangerup announced his resignation, effective October 28, 2016. Slangerup will step down as head of the nation’s second largest port to take a position as Chairman and CEO of an aviation technology company effective October 31, 2016. Soon after joining the port in June of 2014, Slangerup helped address the major congestion challenge that affected the San Pedro Bay port complex and the national goods movement network. He worked with local, regional and federal stakeholders  to restore operations in less than half the time expected.

12 Jul 2016

Imports Climb at Port of Long Beach

Photo: Port of Long Beach

Rising imports fueled higher container traffic at the Port of Long Beach in June, leading to a 3.4 percent overall volume increase over the same month last year, the port reported. The Port of Long Beach handled 603,339 TEUs (twenty-foot-equivalent units) during the month. Of those, 313,526 were inbound containers, a gain of 5.5 percent year-over-year. Exports were flat for the month at 128,099 TEUs, 0.1 percent lower than June 2015. Empties edged up to 161,714 TEUs, a 2.2 percent increase. Year-to-date total volume is down 0.6 percent compared to the first six months of 2015. U.S.

09 Jun 2016

Fireboat Dedicated at Long Beach Port

A new fireboat was officially welcomed into service Wednesday at the Port of Long Beach, representing a significant leap forward in protecting the harbor and the flow of trade through the nation’s second-busiest seaport. In a dockside ceremony attended by 100 invited guests, the fireboat named “Protector” was dedicated in memory of Donald Domenic DiMarzo, a former Long Beach Fire Department captain. DiMarzo served as a fire marshal aboard the USS Intrepid in the Pacific during World War II. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service for leading efforts to save the aircraft carrier after an attack that set it ablaze on Nov. 25, 1944.

14 May 2016

Long Beach Port Shipments Decline

Following a solid first quarter, Port of Long Beach container cargo volumes decreased in April compared to the same month in 2015, after lower-than-expected consumer spending in recent months. The decline also reflects evolving vessel alliances that have shifted ship deployments. Overall, Port container cargo volume was down 22.1 percent last month, compared to April 2015. Amid a soft retail climate in the U.S. and economic woes overseas, the decline in imports was accompanied by exports that were down 18 percent due to the continued strength of the U.S. dollar. Commenting on the volume decline, Port of Long Beach CEO Jon Slangerup said: "The additional berthing choices offered by vessel alliances are dispersing cargo across more terminals and ports.

14 Apr 2016

Port of Long Beach Starts Strong in 2016

Photo: Port of Long Beach

Cargo shipments at the Port of Long Beach were up 6.1 percent for the first three months of 2016 compared to the same period last year, starting the year off strongly. Lifted by big gains in January and February, the quarter was the port’s best since 2007. While March 2015 volumes soared 32 percent over the same month in 2014 due to the exceptional recovery from cargo backlogs early last year, March 2016’s container volumes were down 26.2 percent. Other factors contributing to this March’s smaller monthly total included the Lunar New Year…

31 Mar 2016

Port Industry Expects Growth in 2016

Photo: Port of Long Beach

At the 12th annual “Pulse of the Ports Peak Season Forecast,” panelists told the audience of about 550 people that cargo growth should continue through 2016 even though uncertainty remains as the economy and industry continue to evolve. One of the panelists, Senior Economist Mario Moreno, IHS Maritime & Trade, stated that containerized imports from Asia will grow at about 5.5 percent in 2016. He also stated that the overall U.S. economy would grow by about 2.3 percent. Each spring…

17 Mar 2016

Port of Long Beach to See 5% Cargo Growth in 2016

The Port of Long Beach, the second largest port in the United States, will see 5 percent growth in cargo volume this year as a weak U.S. dollar spurs consumer demand, the west coast port's chief executive said on Thursday. The port, which handles 20 percent of U.S. cargo, mainly from east Asia, just posted its strongest February on record, with the weaker dollar helping to drive imports by 45 percent compared to a year ago. Chief Executive Jon Slangerup, who has a front-row seat on global economic activity, said American consumer demand would sustain global growth, offsetting a slowdown in China and an economically weak Europe. "The only real game in town right now is American consumers…

10 Mar 2016

Long Beach Port Breaks Another Record

The arrival of the biggest ship to visit North America catapulted the Port of Long Beach to its highest cargo volume for the month of February and extended cargo growth for an eighth consecutive month. The Port saw strong gains last month by moving 561,412 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), a 35.9 percent increase over the same month last year. For February, imports were up 44.7 percent to 295,870 TEUs. Exports increased 11.1 percent to 123,010 TEUs, while empty containers rose 45.5 percent to 142,532 TEUs. Empty containers are shipped back overseas to be refilled with goods for import. More than 1 million TEUs have moved through the Port of Long Beach in the first two months of 2016.

03 Mar 2016

Long Beach Port Improves Air For 11 Years

Shipping lines calling at the Port of Long Beach cut thousands of tons of air pollution last year by voluntarily participating in the Port's Green Flag Program, which offers financial rewards for ships that reduce their speed near the harbor to decrease emissions. The program, initiated 11 years ago as part of Long Beach's Green Port Policy, gives participants a Green Flag to celebrate their environmental accomplishments and dockage rate breaks to shipping lines slowing to 12 knots or less within 20 or 40 nautical miles of the Port. In 2015, 154 vessel operators met or exceeded the program’s required 90 percent participation rate at either 20 or 40 nautical miles.

18 Feb 2016

Mega Containership to Receive US Inauguration

CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin (Photo: Port of Long Beach)

The largest containership ever to dock at a North American seaport has returned to Southern California. The Benjamin Franklin will officially enter service for the first time on Friday in Long Beach following an inauguration ceremony hosted by French shipping line CMA CGM and attended by elected leaders, port officials and industry executives. The CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, which has a container capacity of 18,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) or 9,000 40-foot-long boxes, arrived Thursday morning at Pier J’s Pacific Container Terminal (PCT).

11 Feb 2016

Long Beach Sees Robust Container Growth

The Port of Long Beach kicked off 2016 by logging its seventh straight month of cargo increases, showing a 24.8 percent jump in container shipments over the same month last year. Port of Long Beach terminals moved 536,188 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units, the industry unit of measurement) last month. Imports were up 30.3 percent to 278,491 TEUs. Exports saw an increase of 8.4 percent to 106,739 container units. Empty containers rose 28.6 percent year over year, to 150,958 TEUs. Empty containers that were filled with items for post-holiday sales were sent back overseas to be reloaded with goods. Long Beach continues to demonstrate its strength as the seaport of choice for trans-Pacific trade based on the Port’s compelling value proposition – being the shortest…

16 Jan 2016

Long Beach Tops 7 Mln TEUs

Propelled by six consecutive months of rising cargo volumes in the final two quarters of 2015, the Port of Long Beach recovered from systemic congestion and cargo diversion in the first quarter to deliver one of its strongest results on record. For only the third time in its 105-year history, Long Beach topped 7 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units, a standard container unit) during the year. Cargo volume climbed 5.4 percent in 2015 compared to 2014, as the Southern California seaport and its industry partners transformed the challenges of congestion at the start of last year into a scene of free-flowing cargo and record setting months.

10 Dec 2015

Long Beach Sees another Month of Cargo Gains

Strong cargo volume continued at the Port of Long Beach in November with 6.6 percent growth in container trade over the same month last year. It was the fifth straight month of increases and enough cargo to rack up the second-busiest November in the Port’s 104-year history. A total of 619,699 TEUs, moved through the port last month, as imports were up 4.3 percent to 306,654 containers. Reflecting the strong U.S. dollar, exports fell 4 percent to 124,717 containers. Empties tallied 188,328 containers, a 19.5 percent increase over November 2015. Upcoming post-holiday sales planned by retailers across the country drove the port’s strong cargo numbers.

23 Nov 2015

Port of Long Beach Mulls ‘Flexible Free Time’

Photo: Port of Long Beach

Port of Long Beach officials will consider reducing the amount of time import containers can be stored on docks without charge, hoping the change would increase velocity of cargo moving out of the port. Since 2005, the length of time containers can stay on the dock, called “free time,” has been four days. Beyond that, terminals are charged storage fees. Now with larger vessels regularly calling on the port, terminals are seeing more containers, inhibiting workers’ ability to deliver containers quickly and efficiently.

09 Nov 2015

Port of Long Beach Sees Best October in 8 Years

Photo: Port of Long Beach

The docks continued to be busy at the Port of Long Beach in October as cargo volume rose 6.3 percent compared to the same month last year, making for the best October in eight years, the port reported. The gains also come on the heels of the top quarter in the port’s 104-year history. Strong export growth of 6.5 percent in October buoyed the port’s overall numbers as shippers turned to the Port of Long Beach. A slight decline in imports indicated that retailers of clothing, electronics…

13 Oct 2015

Long Beach Port Delivers Best Quarter

With the best September in its 104-year history, the Port of Long Beach last month moved enough cargo volume to also achieve its busiest quarter, signaling a return to pre-recession trade levels. Many of the popular Halloween and holiday items on U.S. store shelves today were brought through the harbor in recent months. Retailers are stocking costumes, decorations and other goods in order to meet consumer demand. Measured by individual containers of freight, cargo volume at the Port of Long Beach climbed 4.1 percent in September compared to the same period last year, to 655,624 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of boxed cargo. The year’s third quarter — July through September — topped 2 million TEUs in a first for the Port, and improved 14.8 percent over the third quarter of 2014.

20 Sep 2015

Long Beach Port Weighs Options to Enhance Efficiency

The Port of Long Beach today announced plans to seek new ways to use a largely undeveloped 150-acre pier to help move cargo more efficiently as the Port continues to welcome increasing trade. With the looming closure at the end of this month of the temporary storage depot at the Terminal Island parcel known as “Pier S,” Harbor Department officials will begin a process to solicit input on potential uses from industry, environmental groups and the community. Any proposal would undergo a full environmental review. In the midst of the worst congestion to strike the port complex in years, the 30-acre temporary depot opened on Pier S on Dec. 29, 2014, to store empty cargo containers and free up truck chassis needed to haul loaded containers out of congested terminals at the time.

11 Sep 2015

Record Cargo Numbers Continue at Long Beach Port

For the second month in a row, the Port of Long Beach broke its own record for cargo volume in its 104-year history. In a clear sign that customers are confident in the Port, overall cargo volume grew by 22.8 percent in August compared to the same month last year. Cargo volume, measured by the number of containers moving through the Port, reached 703,652 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). The amount beats July’s cargo volume and marks two consecutive months of record-breaking volumes. A total of 1,393,896 TEUs moved through the Port of Long Beach in July and August. “Our partners once again have expressed their confidence in the Port of Long Beach and we thank them for their business,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Jon Slangerup.

13 Aug 2015

July Surge Leads Long Beach to Record Volumes

Photo: Port of Long Beach

Cargo container volumes surged through the Port of Long Beach in July, with an 18.4 percent increase over the same month in 2014, making July a record month in the port’s 104-year history. Previously, the port’s best year was 2007, just before 2008’s recession. Now, after a slow start at the beginning of 2015, the gains in July mark the fourth time in the last five months that cargo totals have climbed significantly higher, the port said. The port’s terminals moved 690,244 twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEUs) in July, an increase of 18.4 percent compared to July 2014.

22 May 2015

Long Beach Port to Set-up Peak Relief Chassis Fleet

The Port of Long Beach will seek bids on the creation of a new fleet of truck chassis for peak periods of the year, complementing the existing equipment used to haul cargo containers to and from terminals. “It’s not enough for us to be a passive landlord; the industry needs the Port to be involved in helping our terminals to be more productive,” said Harbor Commission President Doug Drummond. The “peak chassis fleet” is planned to be implemented in two phases, starting with 1,000 chassis and then adding another 2,000 chassis. “Our peak chassis pool will not compete with private fleets, but will complement the supply of chassis during those times when it is needed,” said Port Chief Executive Jon Slangerup. The Port will hold a meeting for potential bidders 10 a.m.

26 Mar 2015

Long Beach, LA Collaborate to Improve Cargo Flow

Photo: Port of Long Beach

Executives from the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles held a kickoff meeting earlier this week to begin working together to focus on cargo conveyance strategies that will enhance velocity and efficiency throughout their gateway’s supply chain. In their first meeting under the formal discussion agreement recently approved by the Federal Maritime Commission, ranking staff of the two San Pedro Bay ports — the busiest seaport complex in the United States — agreed that the primary goal of the collaboration is to get cargo moving more efficiently.

25 Apr 2015

Long Beach, Los Angeles ports host forum to gather input

More than 100 cargo owners, trucking firm leaders, longshore labor, marine terminals and other goods movement industry representatives turned out Wednesday for a joint meeting hosted by the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles to gather input, insights and solutions focused on improving the performance of the supply chain. “We are looking at not just improving this gateway,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Jon Slangerup. “This is an effort to look at the entire supply chain – end to end. “Our stakeholders have provided insightful feedback on ways we can work together to improve throughput and efficiency throughout the San Pedro Bay port complex,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka.

27 Apr 2015

Long Beach Picketers Not Striking -Port CEO

Port of Long Beach CEO Jon Slangerup issued a statement addressing the status of picketing truckers at the harbor, pointing out that the demonstration is not a strike. “The Teamsters union started informational picketing this morning at the Port of Long Beach. To be clear, this is not a strike,” Slangerup said. “Dockworkers have reported to work and truckers have been able to enter and exit the affected terminals without delay. We do not expect that there will be any adverse impact to Port terminals or our ability to continue the outstanding progress that everyone has made in recent weeks to clear the congestion backlog and return to normal operations.