Long Beach Container Terminal (LBCT) has been shortlisted for the 2026 TT Club Innovation in Safety Awards for its Overhead Load Protection System, designed to address significant risks in its extensive on-dock rail operations.
LBCT operates more than 48,000 feet of rail track, making it one of the largest on-dock rail yards in North America.
The site runs continuously, with train movements, container loading and discharge, inspections and maintenance often taking place simultaneously.
Containers are handled by six Intermodal Yard Cranes spanning eight working tracks, while ground personnel operate a wide range of vehicles and equipment.
As outlined in the award submission: “There is significant risk to ground personnel when cranes are operating and passing over head.”
Risks include falling objects such as twist locks and debris, as well as components from the cranes themselves.
Previously, vendors and locomotive crews were required to remain outside the working rail yard while cranes were moving, limiting operational flexibility.
To address this, LBCT implemented an Overhead Load Protection System that “creates a safer work environment for personnel in the rail yard by restricting cranes from passing over head.”
READ: Dublin SafePort shortlisted for Innovation in Safety Award
The system physically prevents cranes from travelling above ground crews and provides live monitoring of personnel and vehicle locations across the yard.
Developed in partnership with Yardeye, later acquired by Mi Jack, the project involved installing GPS, RFID and wireless tracking technology on cranes and vehicles, alongside mapping geographic boundaries and operational flows.
Each crane is fitted with more than 20 antennas, sensors and readers. The system went live in April 2025.
Since implementation, LBCT reports that it “hasn’t experienced a single overhead incident as a result (nor any safety incidents related to the system)”.
In addition to enhancing safety, the terminal has reduced downtime and improved planning, as maintenance and service providers can now work safely in the rail yard while cranes continue operating.
The winners of the 2026 TT Club Innovation in Safety Awards will be announced on 25 February 2026.
For more information:
TT Club – https://www.ttclub.com/
ICHCA – https://ichca.com/
