 Around the Port...
Port Settles Clean Trucks Lawsuit
 The Port of Long Beach has settled a lawsuit brought by the American Trucking Associations (ATA), resolving the final legal challenge to its year-old Clean Trucks Program. One of the Port's most ambitious environmental initiatives, the program is already cutting truck-related pollution significantly and is ahead of schedule on its goal to reduce emissions 80 percent by 2012.
"This is a critical milestone for the program, reaching consensus with an important industry partner," said Nick Sramek, president of the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners. "With this settlement, the Port of Long Beach and the ATA have agreed to move forward, together, on a Clean Trucks Program that works to safeguard the environment while contributing to economic growth and jobs."
Read more: Click here for the full news release. For ATA's news release, click here.
On video: Click here for an "On the Go" video segment on the Clean Trucks Program's first year anniversary.
Return to top
Port to Drop Pre-paid Clean Trucks Fees
 Effective November 15, only cargo owners using older, more polluting trucks will have to pre-pay Clean Trucks Program fees. Currently, all cargo owners claim and pre-pay the fees, although those using clean trucks or rail are reimbursed. The pre-payment process does not involve additional direct fees, but cargo owners say the requirement has resulted in extra costs and onerous administrative burdens. Fees collected from dirty trucks are used to help finance new, less-polluting trucks.
The new rule was developed in cooperation with the PortCheck fee-collecting organization and the Port of Long Beach Marine Terminal Operators. It will have no impact on the pollution reduction goals of the Clean Trucks Program, which are far ahead of schedule. One year since the launch of the program, 85 percent of all containers moved through the Port of Long Beach are being carried by clean trucks or on-dock trains.
Read more: Click here for the full news release. For more information on the Clean Trucks Program, click here.
Return to top
Container Trade Drops 20.6 percent in September
 Containerized cargo at the Port of Long Beach in September declined 20.6 percent from the same period last year. The Port's shipping terminals moved 440,364 twenty-foot equivalent container units, or TEUs, in September, compared to 554,837 a year ago.
Imported cargo dropped 19.4 percent to 224,924 TEUs from last year. Exports declined 15.7 percent to 109,337 TEUs from a year ago. The number of empty containers, most of which are sent overseas to be refilled with products, declined by 27.4 percent to 106,103 TEUs. So far in 2009, overall container trade is down by 24.6 percent compared to the same time period in 2008.
Read the Data: Click here for the latest TEU figures, and here for the latest tonnage summary reports.
Return to top
Green Port Fest '09
 More than 10,000 people attended the fifth annual Green Port Fest on Saturday, October 3. It was the biggest crowd yet for the popular waterfront street fair that gives the public a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the Port of Long Beach. The event is a key component of the Port's ongoing efforts to educate the community about its pioneering environmental programs and sustainable practices.
On video: Click here for an "On the Go" video segment on this year's Green Port Fest.
Photos: For a photo slide show, click here.
Return to top
Port to Begin $40 Million Dredging Project
 On October 8, the Port and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced a $40 million harbor dredging project that will improve navigation by removing and relocating nearly 1.5 million cubic yards of sediment from the sea floor.
The dredging work is scheduled to begin in March of 2010 and will involve four separate locations. The primary focus is a turning basin south of the BP oil terminal on Terminal Island (Pier T), which will be deepened to 76 feet, the same depth as the main channel. With the deeper inner basin, large tankers will no longer need to unload part of their oil outside the breakwater to safely reach berth.
The dredge materials will be used to fill about 12 acres at the northern half of ITS Terminal in Pier G.
Read more: The Port has gathered a list of resources for job seekers. Click here for the full news release.
On video: The Port has gathered a list of resources for job seekers. Click here for an "On the Go" video segment on the announcement.
Return to top
Port, BP Earn Prestigious Clean Air Award
 On October 2, Southern California regional air pollution authorities presented the Port with an award for being the first seaport in the world to construct an oil shipping terminal with shore power.
Plugging an off-loading oil tanker into land-side electric power instead of running auxiliary diesel engines is the pollution-reduction equivalent of taking 187,000 cars off the roadways for a day.
Port and BP America officials accepted the honor from the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) at the agency's 21st annual Clean Air Awards ceremony in downtown Los Angeles. The awards recognize individuals, organizations, communities and businesses that have made a significant contribution to cleaner air.
The shore power berth on Pier T was dedicated on June 3, 2009. It was built at a cost of $23.7 million, with $17.5 million from the Port and $6.2 million from BP America.
Read more: The Port has gathered a list of resources for job seekers. Click here for the full news release.
Return to top
Board to Hold One Evening Meeting a Month
The Board of Harbor Commissioners will be holding one regular Monday meeting a month at 5 p.m., rather than at its regularly scheduled early afternoon hour, to make it easier for the public and industry professionals to attend.
The Harbor Commission generally meets three times a month on Mondays and is dark on the fourth Monday of the month. The first two meetings of the month will still be at the regular 1 p.m. Monday time slot.
The first evening meeting was October 19.
Learn more: The Port has gathered a list of resources for job seekers. Click here for live and archived webcasts of board meetings.
Return to top
|