Our News

West Coast ports agree on closer collaboration

Managers from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach met recently to agree a collaboration strategy to improve the efficiency of cargo throughput in a bid to clear the backlogs that have built up over recent months.

In the first formal talks since the Federal Maritime Commission's decision to approve the two ports working together, the executives discussed "cargo conveyance strategies that will enhance velocity and efficiency throughout their gateway's supply chain.

The two sides will now agree a framework for cooperation throughout the supply chain.

More at FruitNet

First meeting between POLB, POLA under Federal Maritime Commission agreement held earlier this week

The Port of Long Beach (POLB) announced Wednesday that a kickoff meeting earlier this week with the Port of Los Angeles (POLA) marked the beginning of their collaboration to enhance velocity and efficiency throughout the gateway's supply chain.

As the first meeting under the formal discussion agreement recently approved by the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), ranking staff from the San Pedro ports, that together make up the busiest port complex in the United States, decided that their number one goal is to get cargo moving more efficiently.

According to the POLB, the initial meeting was held at POLB headquarters to discuss the framework for how the ports will collaborate, work with stakeholders within the supply chain and communicate the results of these efforts.

More at the Long Beach Post

LA, Long Beach bring recovery plan to legislators, shippers

From the Journal of Commerce: Port leaders — including Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka, Port of Long Beach Chief Executive Jon Slangerup and Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners President Doug Drummond — also stressed that they were taking responsibility for the months of congestion that brought terminals to near gridlock and were aggressively working to prevent it from happening again.

And they made the case to shippers that Southern California is still the best gateway to bring their cargo through because of sailing frequency, intermodal rail connections, and nearby industrial real estate, among other factors.

Although both ports run under a landlord model where each marine terminal handles its own stevedoring, Seroka said he stressed during the D.C. meetings that he envisions a hybrid approach that encompasses the more hands-on approach of operating ports. Los Angeles is already moving toward this hybrid model by working with the three largest chassis-leasing companies with their formation of a “gray pool” and offering land for a container free-flow operation.

More at the JOC