Final Say
Ports—Don't Procrastinate

J. Christopher Lytle, deputy executive director and CEO of the Port of Long Beach, tells ports it's vital that they be proactive when it comes to the environment and community relationships

The ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles handled nearly 15 million TEUs last year. In 2020, that number is projected to be as high as 36.7 million.

The news is a double-edged sword. On one side it’s great in terms of economic growth. On the other side, there will be more noise, congestion and air pollution issues.

J. Christopher Lytle, deputy executive director and CEO of the Port of Long Beach, says that Long Beach and Los Angeles will be ready. And part of their preparation includes addressing their severe environmental issues.

“There are some environmental agencies that have identified several thousand premature deaths a year as a result of port emissions problems. And children’s asthma is off the charts in Southern California,” he says. “We have a lot of [infrastructure] projects that aren’t getting done. If we don’t focus on those environmental issues, we won’t be able to do anything.”

The Port of Long Beach has taken very big steps already:

• In 2005, the Port of Long Beach developed the Green Port Policy, which sets their environmental focus and time lines.

• In 2006, the port developed the Clean Air Action Plan, “which specifies particular actions, milestones, time frames, on everything we do at the port,” says Lytle. And this plan was built with everyone’s cooperation, including the Port of Los Angeles, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the California Air Resources Board and the Southern California Air Quality Management District.

Some of the actions taken include, among others:

• Vessel Speed Reduction Program — At 20 miles out, every vessel coming into port must slow to 12 knots.

• Green leases — As leases come up, they include terms for shoreside power, yard equipment, etc.

• Improved locomotives — All are now low-emission.

• Low Sulfur Fuel Incentive Program — A new program designed to help ease liner companies into using low sulfur fuel in and around the port. “The vessels represent about 50 percent of the air emission problem that you have in the whole San Pedro Bay basin,” says Lytle.

• Hybrid tug — Currently being built

• Technology Advancement Program (TAP) — Funding for new technology.

• New trucks — Subsidizing the cost of new trucks to be compliant with the port’s Clean Trucks Program by 2012.

Bigger issue

Lytle says a bigger issue may be the disconnect between the people and the port — a common problem with a large metropolitan area. “It’s very critical for us to reconnect those citizens,” says Lytle.

Long Beach has been successful in engaging the community in ways it hasn’t been able to before. Just a few of the steps they’ve taken include:

• Port forums — speaking with the nine city council districts
• Green Port Fest — holding an annual event for citizens, with boat tours
• Tours — viewing a working intermodal facility
• Television — producing a professional port TV program
• Line involvement — getting shipping lines involved in the community

Sage advice

All of these activities may sound over the top to some, but Lytle says it’s not.
“If you sit back and think that these environmental issues don’t apply to you and they only apply to these guys in Southern California, then that’s a mistake,” says Lytle. “Because believe me, you need to be out in front of what’s happening here on the environment.”

“Don’t let the tail wag the dog,” he adds. “You need to be out there and put your best foot forward. Don’t wait until you’re forced into it. And basically that’s what happened in Southern California.”

Lastly, he says, “Develop that [community] relationship. You may have a good relationship now, but continue to work on the relationship. That’s the most critical thing.”