Port of Long Beach - Recent History (1970s-present)

Recent History (1970s-present)

With the rapid expansion of the port raising concerns of pollution, the Port of Long Beach instituted programs to prevent and control oil spills, contain debris and effectively manage vessel traffic. Due to its efforts, the port was awarded the American Association of Port Authorities Environmental "E" Award. Long Beach is the first harbor in the Western Hemisphere to receive such an award.

In 1980, with United States and China's improved relations, the Port sent officials to the People’s Republic of China for the first time. Less than a year later, the China Ocean Shipping Co. inaugurated international shipping and designated Long Beach Port as its first U.S. port of call. Relationships were forged with other international powers and South Korea's Hanjin Shipping opened a 57-acre (230,000 m2) container terminal on Pier C of the port in 1991. Following this, COSCO, a Chinese international shipping carrier, secured business with the Port of Long Beach in 1997.

From the late 1990s through 2011, the Port of Long Beach has seen increased traffic and growth with the leasing of terminals. In 1997, approximately one million containers were inbound to the Port. By 2005, it had tripled to nearly 3.3 million containers. If outbound containers are included, then the number increased from three million containers in 1997 to nearly 6.7 million containers.

The surge in vessel traffic and cargo prompted the port's increased environmental efforts. In 2004, the Port of Long Beach reached compliance with an air pollution mandate by handling petroleum coke, one of the port's largest exports, in improved ways. By using enclosed conveyors and covered storage areas, the Port reduced the amount of dust emitted by the petroleum coke by 5 percent – down 21 percent in 1997.

In 2007, the seaport launched the first stage of its Clean Air Action Plan by approving a Clean Trucks Program which banned older diesel trucks from serving the Port.

On October 1, 2011, the Clean Trucks Program was launched by the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. The program served to set a goal to reduce air pollution from its truck fleet by 80 percent by 2012. Trucks built prior to 1987 that fail to meet the 2007 clean truck standards set forth by the United States Environmental Protection Agency are denied access to port terminals. In compliance with the clean truck initiative on October 1, all trucking companies conducting business with the Port must have a Port-approved concession outlining the regulations they must abide by. By September 23, 2011, nearly 500 trucking companies had applied for concessions, amounting to more than 6,000 trucks.