$1bn Long Beach Terminal Opening Soon

The Port of Long Beach’s US$1.3 billion Middle Harbor Terminal expansion project is anticipated to be operational by April, 2016, which is a new terminal facility aimed at doubling the old terminal’s capacity by transforming it into a new high-tech terminal, according to the Long Beach Press Telegram.

Lori Ann Guzman, President of the Long Beach Harbor commission, said: “We’re really excited about the April, 2016 ‘go live’ date.”

Technical Paper: How the Port of Long Beach conquered congestion

Tom Baldwin, Assistant Director for Program Management at the Port of Long Beach, said the second phase of the terminal’s development will cost more than $470 million.

The first phase was completed at a cost of more than $840 million.

The new terminal will have the capability to handle 18,000 TEU mega-ships, with ship-to-shore cranes being able to lift two containers simultaneously.

Technical Paper: Long Beach: Driving the US into the future

Mega-ships berthing at US ports has been reported recently, after the 18,000 TEU CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin arrived at the Port of Los Angeles and then at the Port of Oakland.

This has since sparked discussions as to whether the US is ready to handle the next generation of mega-ships.