Cargo Business Newswire

Monday, September 8, 2014

City approves $848M Port of Long Beach budget for new fiscal year

The Long Beach City Council voted approve an $858 million budget for the Port of Long Beach for the upcoming fiscal year starting October 1, with much of it being slotted for port upgrades.

The Harbor Department plans to spend $579 million on capitol projects, including the ongoing Desmond Bridge Replacement Project and the redevelopment of the Middle Harbor Terminal.

The Port projects operating revenue of just over $346 million for the new fiscal year.

The funding will come from terminal leases and cargo fees charged to companies and shipping lines. Grants from state and federal agencies for roadway, rail and security projects also add to the port’s annual operating budget.

The newly approved budget provides for the creation of almost 30 new full-time positions, including 20 in engineering, which is key with all of the construction projects the port is undertaking, according to Art Wong, the port’s assistant director of communications.

"Because we’re moving ahead with a capital program that includes a lot of construction, it’s important that we add those positions," Wong said. "Working on $4 billion in projects, it’s very important to have the people to manage and direct that work."

The budget sets aside $30 million for environmental programs like barge-based pollution control systems for ships at berth and the e-highway, a demonstration of how catenary-style systems can steer the port move toward zero-emissions.

Wong said the Port’s aim is to eventually be zero-emissions and that "it’s important that the Port continues to move forward and foster ideas and technology that will help us to get to zero emissions."

For more of the Long Beach Post story: lbpost.com

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