ASCE OC Sustainability: Port of Long Beach Tour

Sam Ali, PE
May 25
2 min read

Updated: May 27

On May 22nd, the ASCE OC Sustainability Committee hosted a Sustainability tour of the Port of Long Beach, offering a water-side view of the world's most sustainable, environmentally-sensitive Port. Committee members, YMF, student members, and guests were invited to have an up-close view of the facilities and operations of this world-class Port.

On the way into the Harbor, the tour passed the iconic Queen Mary luxury liner, the Carnival Cruise Lines' Long Beach Cruise Terminal, the Tidelands Oil Co. oil extraction islands, and the Federal Breakwater near the Queen's Gate deep channel ship entrance. Upon entering the Harbor, we toured the Southeast Basin, where we saw operations at Pier G and J with massive cranes that can unload containers stacked 22 high on 22,000 TEU (20-ft equivalent units) container ships over 1200 ft long. The tour then passed by the LEED-certified POLB Security Headquarters and the Port's new Fire Station 15, housing the state-of-the-art 108' Fire Boat Vigilance. Next, the LBCT Pier E Middle Harbor Terminal, completed in 2021, sets new standards with its 24,000 TEU ship capacity and 14 gantry cranes. It's the world's greenest container terminal, featuring fully automated cargo handling equipment, rail, and truck loading facilities. We then saw the Port's most notable landmark, the new Long Beach International Gateway Bridge, with its 505' piers, 1000' long central span, and 205' air draft over the Back Channel. Returning from the Inner Harbor Turning Basin, we saw terminals that handle the complete range of cargo, including containers, dry-bulk, liquid-bulk, break-bulk, and roll-on/roll-off. Completing the tour will see Pier T, one of the largest of the Port's terminals with its 5000' wharf that can unload the largest 24,000 TEU ships currently in operation.

During the tour, Port personnel highlighted projects with significant sustainability features. It explained the Port's sustainability program, including the Envision-rated Terminal Island WYE Track project, Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility, the proposed offshore wind power Pier Wind Terminal program, and its Zero-Emission program. The tour gave us the most comprehensive look at the Green Port, this genuinely remarkable hub of commerce, with its rich maritime history, cutting-edge technology, and the world's most advanced environmental operations and facilities.

Thanks to Doug Serrano for organizing the tour as coordinator with the Port of Long Beach.

For questions about the ASCE OC Sustainability Committee, please contact Chair Sam Ali at sustainability@asceoc.org.

About the Author:

Sam Ali, PE is a retired Senior Civil Engineer previously employed with the Orange County Public Works, where he supervised a team of civil engineers to initiate new projects for the county’s Capital Improvement Program. The team prepared Preliminary Programming Reports for roads, bridges, flood control channels, and bikeways to determine if the project is feasible. He received both his Bachelor's and Master of Science degrees in Civil Engineering from California State University Long Beach. He has been involved with ASCE Orange County for years and has served in multiple roles.