[ Port of Long Beach Caps Fiscal Year 96-97 with Doub...]

Port of Long Beach Caps Fiscal Year 96-97 with Double-Digit Growth and
Completion of Capital Projects

After opening its largest container terminal and completing six constr
uction projects related to a multimillion dollar infrastructure enhanc
ement program, the Port of Long Beach capped fiscal year 1996-97 with
a double-digit gain in container throughput.
During the period between October 1996 and September 1997, the port ha
ndled the equivalent of 3,386,118TEUs --- a 12.6% jump from the previo
us fiscal year. Loaded imports shiowed the most growth, swelling 18.1%
from the previous fiscal year to 1,754,448TEUs. This increase follows
a year when imports grew approximately 16% to 18% each month.
Meanwhile, exports increased by 2.6% form the previous year to 1,109,0
91TEUs. Empty containers jumped 18.6% from the previous fiscal year to
522,579TEUS.
“We experienced high volume during the winter and spring, and that ac
tivity sustained its momentum over the pre-holiday shipping season in
the summer” said Dick Stenike, acting executive director for the Port
of Long Beach.
The port also closed fiscal year 1996-97 with the opening of a new $27
7 million, 170-acre container terminal for Hanjin Shipping Co.; the co
mpletio of some terminal enhancements; and the completion of six roadw
ay projects related to a $150 million infrastructure enhancement progr
am.
In September, the port received the first vessel at the new Hanjin Ter
minal. The terminal is the port’s largest, featuring a 3,600 foot wha
rf that can handle three post-panamax ships at once and a temporary st
orage space for more than 18,000TEUs.
The terminal also can store 652 refrigerated cargo containers, of whic
h 144 containers may be stacked on platforms. Long Beach is the first
U.S. seaport to use such a stacked system, which is already used in so
me of the busiest ports in Asia. Hanjin officials will share the new t
erminal with Cho Yang and DSR Senator Line.
Enhancements to existing marine terminals also were completed during t
he fiscal year to accommodate customers’ needs. For instance, three o
f the six gantry cranes at Pacific Container Terminal were modified to
extend an additional 42 feet. Those cranes have an outreach of 145 fe
et --- long enough to work post-panamax vessels.
At Long Beach Container Terminal(LBCT), nearly 6.9 acres of land were
added for container storage. This additional acreage was made availabl
e after construction was completed on a road overpass adjacent to the
terminal. LBCT now encompasses some 101.4 acres.
Sighificant roadway projects also were completed during the fiscal yea
r. To date, six grade separations or overpasses at various intersectio
ns in the harbor are complete, and another grade separation project is
underway. Started in 1993, the grade separations are designed to sepa
rate rail from vehicular traffic.
“With trade volume increasing, we’re committed more than ever to pro
viding the space and facilities our customers need to keep trade flowi
ng --- not only for U.S. consumers, but for those in markets abroad”
said Steinke.