Issue link: https://pma.uberflip.com/i/819501
One of the most dramatic develop- ments at the port complex in 2016 was the installation of the tallest ship- to-shore crane in North America. At Pier 400 at the Port of Los Angeles, APM Terminals raised the first of 10 ship-to-shore cranes from 134 to 167 feet, while extending the boom to handle loading and unloading of ultra-large container ships carrying up to 20,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units). The $40 million crane-raising project also features important technology, including better illumination that enhances visibility for the crane operator while also improving the effectiveness of optical character recognition programs. In 2016, the Port of Long Beach opened the first phase of its state- of-the-art Middle Harbor Terminal, and continued construction of the $1.5 billion Gerald Desmond Bridge replacement, which will rise more than 200 feet above the water. Automated terminals come online In April 2016, the first phase of the Long Beach Container Terminal (LBCT) project received its first vessel call at the fully automated Middle Harbor Terminal. The terminal uses seven ship-to-shore cranes and 32 automated guided vehicles to work the vessel and process containers to and from truckers. LBCT officials reported that trucks are spending less than half as long per terminal visit, compared to port-wide averages. Reducing truck wait-times enables cargo to move more swiftly, with greater volume and fewer emissions. At full buildout, the $1.3 billion Middle Harbor project is widely I n Southern California, the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach moved forward on a number of improvements designed to facilitate the efficient flow of goods to and from the nation's leading inter- national trade hub. In all, the ports anticipate investments of more than $6.5 billion in capital projects over the next decade to automate terminals, introduce green technologies, enhance rail and roadway capacity, create deep-water berths to accommodate larger vessels, and add new technology to help track cargo. 24 2 0 1 6 A N N U A L R E P O R T Regional Developments: Southern California T H E Y E A R I N R E V I E W At completion, the fully automated Middle Harbor Terminal is expected to be among the most advanced in North America.