That’s the phrase Chief Executive Officer Jon Slangerup used in acknowledgement of the Port of Long Beach’s “comeback year” in his presentation of its accomplishments and future objectives during the 2016 State of the Port address on Thursday, Jan. 21 at the Long Beach Convention Center.
The event featured presentations from both Slangerup and Lori Ann Guzman, president of the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners. They both detailed the Port of Long Beach’s achievements from the past year that include several awards and accolades, the rise of cargo volume and the continued efforts of community members and workers that “opened the door for rapid recovery,” as Slangerup put it.
Slangerup regularly referred to the port’s status during this time last year. Dubbing the situation as an “epic struggle” that led to a “painful and public meltdown,” the chief executive officer said that the Port of Long Beach was plagued with congestion problems and gridlock, as he cued up a video detailing media coverage of the port’s status at that time.
But “the media would begin retracting their obituaries of Long Beach as our performance continued to accelerate,” Slangerup said in response to the now seemingly distant struggle on Thursday. He said that the port was in its “biggest year since 2007,” on par with the high-efficient work ethic prior to the 2008 recession.
Guzman alluded to this growth in her presentation. She called 2015 a landmark year for the port— a time in which it set a trend of becoming a global leader in automating terminal operations, environmental sustainability, community activism and the role of women in international trade.
The board achieved its first female majority in its 105-year history, Guzman said. “That’s a century that went by without an all-female majority, so it’s quite an accomplishment.”
The Port of Long Beach also achieved numerous recognitions during its “landmark year,” Guzman said. In total, 22 awards were given to the port, with the major ones including: Best Information Technology Award for the Virtual Port Security Program, an online feature that offers a complete and operational floor plan of activity in and around the port; Best Environmental Improvement Award for the West Anaheim Street Improvement Project, an effort to rebuild new pavements and curbsides, in addition to new “green” environments and features; and Best Seaport of All of North America Award from Asia Cargo News.
[aesop_image imgwidth=”500px” img=”http://www.signaltribunenewspaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Screen-Shot-2016-01-22-at-10.54.15-AM.png” align=”right” lightbox=”on” caption=”The Port of Long Beach’s gas emissions are down, according to Chief Executive Officer Jon Slangerup’s presentation during the State of the Port address on Thursday, Jan. 21. The standout number is the decrease in sulfur oxides, which is down 97 percent.” captionposition=”right”] Last year, the port also reached its highest cargo volumes of all time, according to Guzman. In addition to that higher output, the return of wildlife is now largely notable in the now cleaner waters surrounding the port, thanks in part to the efforts of everyone involved in its projects, Guzman added.
Overseas efforts have also been utilized in order to seek and establish partnerships with areas such as Hong Kong, France and Denmark.
“The story around the globe that we are sharing is the envy of other ports,” Guzman said. “Our $4-billion capital program is absolutely unmatched in all of North America.”
The $4-billion capital program is an investment to the Port of Long Beach’s programs, upgrades and efficiency improvements.
Projects/programs
The nearly $100-million green port rail project is now complete. It adds six miles of new train tracks while reducing emissions and providing cleaner air.
A $1-billion expansion of the on-dock rail system will drive capacity and will increase throughout the port complex. The capacity has increased from 23 percent to nearly 30 percent. The goal is to increase capacity to 50 percent within the next 10 years. Slangerup said that every train that is moved off the port eliminates between 750 and 1000 truck trips.
[aesop_image imgwidth=”500px” img=”http://www.signaltribunenewspaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Screen-Shot-2016-01-22-at-10.54.11-AM.png” align=”left” lightbox=”on” caption=”Lori Ann Guzman, president of the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners, detailed the Port of Long Beach’s accomplishments and accolades in her presentation at the 2016 State of the Port address on Thursday, Jan. 21.” captionposition=”left”] The $1.5-billion Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement Project will feature two towers that are beginning to rise out of the ground. They are currently 80-feet high. The final height the two towers will reach is 515 feet. Slangerup said that the bridge will be the tallest structure in the Long Beach skyline. The bridge will be 250 feet above water, allowing mega ships to pass through.
The Middle Harbor $1.3-billion development project will be the first all-electric, zero-emissions automated mega terminal.
The Civic Center Project will be set for completion by 2019. It will feature a headquarters building for the Port of Long Beach, a regional park, a library and more jobs.
The Port of Long Beach has also reduced pollutants, according to Slangerup. Notable decreases include greenhouse gas emissions going down 21 percent, and sulfur oxides going down 91 percent.
Slangerup credited the combined efforts of all partners and leaders of the Port of Long Beach in its resurgence and continued success. And he emphasized the importance of these people for that continued prosperity in the future.
“Where do we go from here?” Slangerup asked. “In considering the future, we can look toward the past for inspiration… In the final analysis, it boils down to three things— vision, courage and leadership. All of these attributes are extremely represented. It’s the vision of those before us that got us here. We now need the courage to think in new ways and make bold decisions that fly in the face of convention… Together, all of us have the opportunity to transform the Port of Long Beach from merely a world-class port to the world’s best port.”
The 2016 State of the Port address is available in its entirety at polb.com/about/stateoftheport. asp.
