Long Beach begins construction of Middle Harbor project
The Port of Long Beach launched construction of its $1.2 billion Middle Harbor project, which the port and Orient Overseas Container Line say will be the most automated container terminal in North America, the Journal of Commerce reported.
“What we speak of today is a collective vision, a vision to make the Port of Long Beach one of the world’s most competitive ports,” Philip Chow, OOCL’s chief executive, said Monday.
Middle Harbor will feature tandem dual-hoist cranes capable of lifting two 40-foot containers simultaneously. The terminal will include an automated movement of containers from the wharf to the waterside end of stacks positioned perpendicular to the vessel, and the movement of containers within the stacks and to the gate-side end by automated stacking cranes.
The project will combine two older facilities — the Long Beach Container Terminal facility and a nearby, vacated site — into one large 304-acre container terminal. It will be developed in phases over the next eight years.
Last month in Hong Kong, representatives of the port and OOCL signed a 40-year, $4.6 billion agreement for Middle Harbor. The terminal at full build-out will have an annual capacity of more than 3 million 20-foot container units.