Issue link: https://jocdigital.uberflip.com/i/570538
GLOBAL LOGISTICS PROFILE The Port of Long Beach is the premier U.S. gateway for trans-Pacific trade and a trailblazer in innovative goods movement, safety and environmental stewardship. Founded in 1911, and now the second- busiest container seaport in the United States, the Port of Long Beach handled nearly 7 million container units in 2014, and overall trade valued at $180 billion. A major economic engine, the port supports 1.5 million trade-related jobs across the nation, including more than 300,000 in Southern California and 30,000 in Long Beach — one in every eight jobs. As the industry enters the "Big Ship Era," the Port of Long Beach is one of the few U.S. ports that can welcome today's biggest ships. The port handles all kinds of cargo and serves 175 shipping lines with connections to 217 seaports around the world. Southern California has more warehousing space than any other seaport area in the country, and imports arriving at Long Beach reach every state in the union. To remain competitive and keep cargo moving safely and efficiently, the port is in the midst of a massive capital program topping $4 billion — the largest in the nation — including terminal, railroad, roadway, channel and bridge improvements. Led by the five-member Board of Harbor Commissioners and CEO Jon Slangerup, the port is building some of the most modern, efficient and sustainable marine facilities in the world to accommodate bigger and bigger ships, while generating tens of thousands of jobs in the region. The two largest projects are the $1.47 billion replacement of the aging Gerald Desmond Bridge and the $1.3 billion Middle Harbor Terminal Redevelopment. The new cable-stayed bridge will be safer and provide better port access than the current span, which was built in 1968, when ships were one-sixth the size they are today. Middle Harbor, opening in 2016, will be the greenest and most technologically advanced container terminal in North America, capable of moving more than 3 million container units annually while reducing air pollution. Additional capital dollars are dedicated to rail projects to remove bottlenecks and increase on-dock rail capacity. The Port of Long Beach continues to set the bar for environmental stewardship. Green Port Policy initiatives have reduced air pollution from operations by more than 82 percent since 2005 — and the long-term goal is to be the nation's first zero-emissions port. The Port of Long Beach prides itself on a culture of customer service and the strong relationships it maintains with industry, community, environmental advocates and partner agencies. It was named "Best Seaport in North America" in 2015 by customers and peers, a distinction it has earned 17 of the past 20 years. In 2014, the Port of Long Beach was named the world's "Best Green Seaport."