Outreach: Long Beach, Tampa Bay

Port of Long Beach Chief Executive Jon Slangerup on Thursday unveiled plans for congestion-beating smart systems for cargo movement and an all-out push to achieve energy resilience for port operations with wind turbines, solar cells and other clean technologies, in his first-ever "State of the Port" address. With a crowd of about 300 port stakeholders, community leaders and elected officials on hand at Port Tampa Bay’s Cruise Terminal 2 today, Port Tampa Bay leaders recapped a successful year of partnerships and economic development, while providing a road map for future business and infrastructure plans. 

Port of Long Beach Chief Executive Jon Slangerup on Thursday unveiled plans for congestion-beating smart systems for cargo movement and an all-out push to achieve energy resilience for port operations with wind turbines, solar cells and other clean technologies, in his first-ever "State of the Port" address.

Speaking to a record audience of nearly 900 at the Long Beach Convention Center’s Pacific Ballroom, Slangerup summed up the Port of Long Beach’s achievements in 2014 then gave his expectations for 2015 and beyond.

Slangerup’s address followed welcoming comments by Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, Harbor Commission President Doug Drummond and Harbor Commission Vice President Rich Dines.

Port of Long Beach Chief Executive and Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia at the Port of Long Beach State of the Port Event.
Photo/Port of Long Beach

Appointed just last July, Slangerup said the Port is making tremendous strides in its efforts to compete with other seaports by modernizing terminals, roadways, bridges and railways, with its $4 billion capital improvement program this decade. The first phase of the $1.3 billion Middle Harbor Terminal Redevelopment project will be completed this summer and Port tenant Long Beach Container Terminal and its parent company Orient Overseas Container Line will begin operations this fall, increasing overall Port container capacity by 10 percent, while continuing to reduce air pollution with the terminal’s near zero-emissions operations.

Slangerup addressed congestion which has slowed cargo movement lately. He noted the reasons things have slowed down on the docks: Bigger ships, bigger alliances, chassis shortages, loading procedures, rail car shortages and labor negotiations all came together to cause the "perfect storm."

"Congestion is the single toughest issue we face," Slangerup said. "And if we don’t fix it immediately, we will drive business away permanently."

One way to address the issue of improving cargo flow in the long term, Slangerup said, is to initiate a "smart system" that will provide all the links in the supply chain with the timely data they need to optimize efficiencies – from how ships are loaded to how cargo owners track the movement of their goods.

Slangerup also brought forth his ideas for an "Energy Island" program to explore solutions to the Port’s increasing need for electricity. As the Port adds more and more zero-emission equipment, the need for electrical power grows. Energy Island is a concept that would bring sustainable power technologies into the Port, helping to satisfy Port needs and to serve as a resource to the community in emergencies.

With a crowd of about 300 port stakeholders, community leaders and elected officials on hand at Port Tampa Bay’s Cruise Terminal 2, Port Tampa Bay leaders recapped a successful year of partnerships and economic development, while providing a road map for future business and infrastructure plans. 

Port Tampa Bay President and CEO Paul Anderson hosted the event and delivered his annual comprehensive address, which included video excerpts of port activity and testimonials by some of the port’s biggest customers, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and Hillsborough County Commission Chairwoman Sandy Murman. 

Historically, the presentation serves to recap the last year of operations and to deliver the port authority’s vision for the future.  Port Tampa Bay works in collaboration with a bevy of economic development agencies, as well as local, state and federal governments to effectively bring prosperity, jobs and added value to the Tampa Bay region and the state. 

"Our plans for diversifying and expanding our lines of business and our infrastructure, as well as new business opportunities, all with a backdrop of an expanded Panama Canal and the opportunities in Latin America – all of it coming into focus, getting closer and clearer. The port’s generational projects and engagement will continue to leave a lasting and positive legacy," Anderson said.  

Port Tampa Bay President and CEO Paul Anderson at the Port Tampa Bay State of the Port event.
Photo/Andy Fobes 

Immediately prior to the port event, Anderson and St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that serves to connect the two port administrations together in working toward common goals, moving ahead.  

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