Construction Begins on ‘Port of the Future’

A new project is underway to modernize the Middle Harbor into what is promised to be one of the greenest and most advanced terminals in North America.

Two companies, Hong Kong-based Orient Overseas Container Lines and Long Beach Container Terminal LLC, along with Port officials, gathered in celebration Monday of the $1.2 billion portion of the 40-year project that will eventually cost $4.6 billion.

The long-term pact between the two container companies with the Port is being billed not only as an investment in green technology, but in trade and jobs as well.

As part of the largest port complex in America, the Port of Long Beach already sees more than $150 billion worth of trade each year. The expansion of two smaller facilities into a single 304-acre container terminal is expected to cut air pollution by half while doubling trade and creating thousands of jobs

“This investment will support trade, adding as many 50,000 new permanent jobs -- 14,000 of which will come from Middle Harbor,” said J. Christopher Lytle, Port of Long Beach Executive Director, in a statement.

Harbor Commission President Susan E. Anderson Wise praised the new wharf as the Port of the Future (read more here…)