Antonio Villaraigosa News

The newly assembled Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners held its first meeting, with four of the five-member panel newly appointed by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. Three of the commissioners are Harbor Area residents. The Harbor Commission is expected to elect its president and vice-president at the next Board meeting on December 12 th. “Spurring investment and creating job opportunities at our nation’s No. 1 Port is critical to Los Angeles and the entire country,” said Mayor Garcetti.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced the signing of an agreement with Yang Ming, a marine transport company, to extend its lease at the Port of Los Angeles for an additional nine years. Yang Ming’s current lease at the West Basin Container Terminal ends in 2021; with this agreement, it extends to 2030 and represents additional port revenues of between $365 and $525 million, depending on cargo volumes. In conjunction with the lease extension, Mayor Villaraigosa signed a Memorandum of Understanding Tuesday in Beijing to expand and modernize the Yang Ming terminal facilities at the port.

Port of Los Angeles breaks ground on US$137-million railyard that will increase on-dock rail efficiency, reduce congestion and improve environment. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Port of Los Angeles officials broke ground on a new intermodal storage railyard that will improve a vital link in the national freight network. The new yard will function as a critical link between the Port of Los Angeles and the Alameda Corridor, providing staging and storage for trains using the corridor. Construction of the $137.7 million rail project at Berth 200, also known as the West Basin Railyard, will generate about 2,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Who: Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino, Port of Los Angeles officials break ground on $137 million intermodal rail yard project in Wilmington. What: The Berth 200 Rail Yard and Roadway Project will improve a critical link in the nation’s freight network. The new storage and queuing yard will clear the way for greater on-dock rail capacity and operational efficiencies at nearby Port container terminal facilities. When: Wednesday, January 16, 9:30 a.m. Where: S.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa released the following statement on Tuesday night: “I am pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached between labor and management that will bring to an end the eight-day strike that has cost our local economy billions of dollars. I would like to thank both the employers and the union for returning to the bargaining table in earnest beginning last night and working feverishly to reach a new deal. The result is a contract amenable to both sides and the return to work during this holiday season for thousands of men and women who are vital to keeping our port running around the clock. I also wish to express thanks to the federal mediators who quickly flew to Los Angeles today, fully prepared to work with both sides to reach an agreement.

One of the most powerful battleships of all time, the Iowa was built starting in 1940. After it was commissioned, the ship transported President Roosevelt to the Tehran Conference in 1943. The ship also saw action in World War II and the Korean War. The Navy awarded the ship to a nonprofit group to display as an interactive naval museum that will highlight its place in American history, explains CBS News. Among those in attendance at the rededication included Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Harbor Commission Approves Environmental Impact Report, Lease Agreement; Historic Battleship Plans to Open to Public July 7. The Los Angeles Harbor Commission today voted unanimously to create a new home for the historic battleship, the USS IOWA, in a prime location along the LA Waterfront at the Port of Los Angeles. In separate actions, The Harbor Commission approved the lease agreement and an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) necessary to bring the World War II icon to the LA Waterfront  where it will be converted to an interactive naval museum and living memorial.

San Pedro, CA – The Los Angeles Harbor Commission unanimously adopted a five-year strategic plan for the Port of Los Angeles for 2012-2017. The plan focuses on three key result areas, or KRAs – competitive operations, strong relationships and financial strength. It maps out the Port’s priorities, objectives and various initiatives for developing infrastructure, enhancing overall competitiveness, growing market share, optimizing land use, advancing maritime technologies and sustainability efforts, and maintaining the Port’s top ranking as the nation’s trade gateway to the Pacific Rim.

For the second consecutive year, the Port of Los Angeles experienced record-breaking exports as outbound container volumes surged 14.5 percent in 2011 compared to 2010. Imports also increased 2.3 percent compared to the previous year. Total annual volumes, including empty containers, rose 1.4 percent. Complete statistics are available here. “We’re fortunate to have stronger year-over-year results in 2011 but we are not resting on our laurels as the nation’s premier trade gateway,” said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. “That’s why we are investing $1.5 billion in capital improvements over the next five years. “2011 was our second straight year of record exports and it’s an example of how our Port is prepared to handle a shift in global trade patterns…

The Port of Los Angeles this month became the first port worldwide to provide Alternative Maritime Power (AMP) to three separate cruise lines. In recent weeks, ships from Disney Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line have all taken advantage of unique “AMP Mobile” technology developed specifically for the World Cruise Center. “The use of AMP at our World Cruise Center reduces emissions not just at the Port but improves the quality of air throughout the Los Angeles region,” said Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

The Port of Los Angeles will begin generating one megawatt of electricity via 71,500 square feet of solar panels on its World Cruise Center rooftop by the end of 2009. A $9m construction contract was recently approved by the Board of Harbor Commissioners for this first phase of a multi-year solar power generation initiative. Three additional phases are expected to occur in within five years, ultimately generating 10 megawatts of power through 1.16 million square feet of solar panels. This initial project is expected to generate more than 100 jobs at the Port during construction, which is expected to be completed in late 2009. City officials estimate that the rapidly growing solar industry creates 200 to 400 jobs in research…