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33 2013 33 P A C I F I C M A R I T I M E A S S O C I A T I O N Economic Significance of West Coast Ports D espite flattening in recent years, containerized cargo movement through West Coast ports has risen dramatically in the past two decades – to a total of more than 15.5 million loaded container TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units). With cargo ranging from tennis shoes and personal computers to heavy equipment and produce, these containers carry many of the staples of our economy. As the primary gateway for international trade between the United States and Asia, the economic impact of the West Coast ports is staggering. When non-containerized goods such as bulk cargo and autos are included, West Coast port activity supports more than 9 million U.S. jobs, from transportation and logistics to manufacturing, retail and commercial endeavors, according to a recent economic report. The domestic business impact of this trade is roughly equal to the GDP of Russia or Italy. 33 P A C I F I C M A R I T I M E A S S O C I A T I O N The National (and Global) Transportation Network Once on land, imports moving through the West Coast ports are carried by rail and truck to destinations across the United States. Exports, too, come from around the nation. The ports, then, are one piece in a much larger transportation infrastructure: highways, rail lines, distribution centers, warehouses and final destinations such as factories, stores and homes. The significance of West Coast cargo movement is not limited to any one region of the country, or to any one industry. The West Coast ports truly supply the nation, and in the coming years, further investment in infra- structure and technology – including new cargo-handling technology – will be essential to enabling these national assets to continue playing this vital role. Waterfront Work: 13,600 Registered Workers As of December 2013, PMA members employed approximately 13,600 registered longshore, clerk and foreman workers at 29 West Coast ports, and thousands more "casual" workers, who typically work part-time. These workers are engaged in all kinds of cargo-handling operations – from lashing con- tainers to driving yard equipment to operating the huge gantry cranes that line most major port terminals. Some are also involved in clerical tasks to keep track of the nearly 1 million tons of cargo that move through West Coast ports on a daily basis. Since the 2002 labor agreement that brought widespread use of technology to West Coast ports, the registered workforce has grown by 32 percent. For more data about the workforce, please see the statistical section starting on page 57. Industry Overview