Rich Dines News

The action temporarily extends the life of the existing 30-acre storage depot that opened in December 2014, and also allows for the storage of loaded cargo containers and chassis in addition to the empty containers already permitted there. Conditions at the port have changed since the storage depot's opening. A tentative agreement has been reached on the dockworkers' contract, federal regulators granted permission for Long Beach and its neighbor the Port of Los Angeles to collaborate on congestion relief, and private chassis fleets in the region agreed to pool their resources.

Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia is leading a Port of Long Beach delegation on a weeklong business development trip this week to meet with executives at the European home offices of the world’s three largest shipping lines. The group will update Port customers on the impact of the recent labor negotiations and steps being taken to improve congestion and make the Port more efficient. Delegation members include Harbor Commission President Doug Drummond, Commission Vice President Rich Dines, Commissioner Lou Anne Bynum and Harbor Department Chief Executive Jon Slangerup. "It's incredibly important that we let our customers know that despite the labor negotiation process and congestion, the Port of Long Beach is still the best place to do business on the West Coast," said Mayor Garcia.

In his first-ever State of the Port address, Port of Long Beach Chief Executive Jon Slangerup on Thursday unveiled plans for congestion-beating smart systems for cargo movement and an all-out push to achieve energy resilience for port operations with wind turbines, solar cells and other clean technologies. Speaking to an audience of nearly 900 at the Long Beach Convention Center’s Pacific Ballroom, Slangerup summed up the Port of Long Beach’s achievements in 2014 then gave his expectations for 2015 and beyond, setting high goals for himself and the port.

Port of Long Beach Chief Executive Jon Slangerup on Thursday unveiled ambitious plans for congestion-beating smart systems for cargo movement and an all-out push to achieve energy resilience for port operations with wind turbines, solar cells and other clean technologies, in his first-ever “State of the Port” address. Speaking to a record audience of nearly 900 at the Long Beach Convention Center’s Pacific Ballroom, Slangerup summed up the Port of Long Beach’s achievements in 2014 then gave his expectations for 2015 and beyond, setting high goals for himself and the Port. Slangerup’s address followed welcoming comments by Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, Harbor Commission President Doug Drummond and Harbor Commission Vice President Rich Dines.

As a result of the Port of Long Beach’s congestion relief efforts, two truck chassis owners, DCLI and TRAC, are adding over 3,000 chassis to their local fleet over the next few weeks to match supply and demand. "We need to increase the utilization of the more than 100,000 chassis in the San Pedro Bay port complex,” said Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners Vice President Rich Dines. “Mega container ships with 10,000-plus total moves per call have added pressure on our chassis pools and far too many chassis sit idle on a daily basis. Dines is chairing a key Board subcommittee charged with improving Port efficiency. In addition to chassis-related issues…

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners – seeking to expand opportunities for a wider range of vendors, contractors and consultants – has set a higher goal for the Port of Long Beach to buy goods and services from small and very small businesses. Historically, the port has succeeded in meeting a 25 percent small business participation goal, which led to the recent Harbor Commission approval of a goal increase to 27 percent for the upcoming fiscal year, beginning October 1.

Port of Long Beach officials welcomed a new addition to their small fleet of boats this week with the delivery of a refurbished and retrofitted landing craft that will strengthen their emergency recovery capabilities. Donated to the Port by the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency, the Landing Craft Mechanized Mark 8, or LCM-8 underwent 12 months of renovations to add cleaner engines, a salvage crane and a galley. The renovations cost $1.5 million and were primarily funded by the California Port and Maritime Security Grant Program.

The Long Beach advertising executive & former city planning commissioner, will lead the commission for a 1-year term from 1, July 2013. Thomas Fields will succeed Commissioner Susan E. Anderson Wise, who has served two years as President. The Board President serves as chair of the commission, running board meetings and often representing the Port to the public and shipping industry. “I look forward to serving as Board President; this is an exciting time for the Port as we look…

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners' energy policy aims to secure a more sustainable and resilient supply of power as demand grows. The Energy Policy declares that the Port will implement measures to increase efficiency, conservation, resiliency, and renewable energy in collaboration with port tenants, utilities, other city departments, industry stakeholders, labor unions, the Port of Los Angeles and others. It was created in anticipation of increasing demand for electricity at the Port with air quality improvement programs such as “shore power,” which allows massive cargo ships to shut down diesel engines and plug into landside electricity while at berth.

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners to support the city’s appeal against a proposed Port of Los Angeles rail yard project. The city’s appeal is of the Southern California International Gateway rail yard project approved recently by the Port of Los Angeles. The 153-acre facility proposed by BNSF Railway Co. sits just outside West Long Beach, alongside the Terminal Island Freeway on land owned by the Port of Los Angeles. Much of its impact would be felt by nearby Long Beach residents, businesses and schools.

Board approves move to temporary headquarters at 4801 Airport Plaza Drive. The Port's administrative staff of about 350 people is expected to move to Airport Plaza in 2013. The Board stressed that the move is temporary, and that discussions will begin soon on building a permanent headquarters in or near downtown Long Beach. "I am relieved that we have identified a secure, temporary home," said Board President Susan E. Anderson Wise. Wise, and commissioners Rich Dines, Doug Drummond and Nick Sramek voted in favor of purchasing the Airport Plaza building.