California Ports Fight to Remain Competitive Despite Weak Global Economy

California ports are facing several problems these days, not least of which is the drastic decrease in container cargo shipments. Container cargo shipments through the Port of Long Beach in 2008 fell 11% compared to 2007, the biggest single-year decline in more than 20 years, with December levels falling 25.3% to its lowest monthly total since February 2005, according to the Port.

Although 2007 was the busiest year in the Port’s history, imports of all products were slow throughout 2008 and exports decreased significantly beginning in mid-September, with imports falling 34.2% and exports falling 26.9% year-over-year in December.
In addition, according to The Cunningham Report, the Port of Los Angeles was down 6.0% year-over-year in 2008, and was down 12.8% in imports and 25.9% in exports year-over-year in December.  “Between the economy and the customary winter impact of the slow season, port traffic is very weak,” IHS Global Insight Economist Paul Bingham said. “Port traffic is projected to continue to be very slow due to the underlying weakness in demand.”

“Despite the weak global economy, Port of Long Beach remains fiscally strong and competitive,” said Port executive director Richard D. Steinke. “While 2008 was a difficult year for the maritime industry, the Port is firmly committed to investing in improvements that will provide new, local jobs, stimulate the local economy, protect the environment and improve security.”

Port of Long Beach Opens State of the Art Command and Control Center

This month, Long Beach Port officials and other dignitaries officially opened the Port of Long Beach Command and Control Center, which will serve as the Port's Security Division headquarters and as a coordination and communications hub for security agencies that protect the harbor complex.

The $21-million facility, designed and built to "silver-level" Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, represents the Port's commitment to state-of-the-art security technology and operational techniques.  To better coordinate security operations, the center includes offices for the various local and federal agencies and maritime organizations that make up the multi-jurisdictional system that protects the harbor complex.

"We have one of the most innovative security operations of any seaport in the United States, and this Command and Control Center further adds to our ability to provide the best possible protection," said Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners President James C. Hankla.  Safety and security are top priorities at the Port of Long Beach, which is always updating its plan for continued business operations in the event of an emergency.

Partner agencies that have offices at the Command and Control Center include the Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, Long Beach Police Department, Port of Los Angeles, and Marine Exchange of Southern California. These agencies have long worked in close cooperation to secure the Port's cargo, terminals, roadways and waterways.