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. The facility was to close March 31, 2015, but by early March, the needs had changed. The Board of Harbor Commissioners approved a six-month extension for the facility, and agreed to allow loaded cargo containers and chassis, in order to provide desperately needed space to help terminals deal with a rising flow of cargo.

The temporary depot has been operated by Pasha Stevedoring and Terminals, and was often cited by Port officials as an effective small-scale demonstration of how a near-dock container yard can be used to move cargo more efficiently.

“The success of the Pier S demonstration project has encouraged us to consider a more expansive use of the property to build on what learned about the efficiency of near-dock operations. The closing of the temporary depot on Pier S gives the Port an opportunity to study a more permanent use for the site, one that will mesh with our ongoing supply chain optimization efforts,” said Port CEO Jon Slangerup.

“The Port of Long Beach wishes to acknowledge Pasha and specifically Senior Vice President Jeff Burgin for their commitment and dedication of resources in the successful demonstration of the Pier S Temporary Congestion Relief Container Depot,” Slangerup said. “The Port greatly appreciates Pasha for stepping forward during an extremely challenging time in our industry. Their actions benefited  the entire Port community.”

Port staff will prepare a recommendation on the study process for the Harbor Commission’s consideration in the near term.