POLA Info

Question 1

Tagline

Answer 1

America’s Port®

Question 2

Our Vision

Answer 2

We are America’s Port® - the nation’s #1 container port and the global model for security, sustainability, and social responsibility.

Question 3

Our Mission

Answer 3

We deliver value to our customers by providing superior infrastructure and promoting efficient operations that maintain our essential role in the nation’s economy and transportation network as North America’s preferred gateway and a catalyst for job growth.

Question 4

1 Port

Answer 4

…container port in the western hemisphere for 24 years: since 2000. Record year was 2021 with 10.7 million TEUs handled. I expect it to be larger this year.

Question 5

Cruise Terminal Growth

Answer 5

2023 was busiest cruise year on record with a record 1.3 million passengers.

Question 6

Economic Impact POLA

Answer 6

-Ranked No. 16 in the world.
-128,000 jobs in Los Angeles (1 in 15).
-462,000 jobs in five-county region (1 in 19).
-1.4 million jobs throughout the U.S. (1 in 111).
-41% of West Coast’s market share.
-16% of United States’ market share.

Question 7

Economic Impact San Pedro Port Complex

Answer 7

-Ranked No. 9 in the world.
-171,000 jobs in Los Angeles/Long Beach (1 in 13).
-931,000 jobs in five-county region (1 in 9).
-2.7 million jobs throughout the U.S. (1 in 58).
-75% of West Coast’s market share.
-29% of United States’ market share.

Question 8

Infrastructure

Answer 8

-7,500 acres (4,300 land/3,200 water)
43 miles of waterfront.
-53’ Main Channel water depth.
-25 cargo terminals, including seven container terminals.
-83 ship-to-shore container cranes.
-1,932 pieces of cargo-handling equipment.
-122 miles of rail, including five on-dock railyards and a classification yard.
-15 marinas with 3,736 recreational vessel slips and dry docks.

Question 9

News

Answer 9

(October):
-$412 million grant from the EPA to help transition to zero-emission equipment and infrastructure.
(September):
-POLA handled a record 954,706 TEUs in September, a 27% increase over the previous year. It marked the close of the busiest quarter ever at the Port, which processed 2,854,904 TEUs in the last three months.
(August):
-LA Harbor Commission Greenlights $52M On-Dock Rail Project at Fenix Marine Terminal (The project will add five loading/unloading tracks in the intermodal yard at the Pier 300 terminal).
(July):
-A Record-Setting July at POLA as Cargo Soars 37% -
Early Wave of Holiday Imports Helps Fuel Busiest Month Since Pandemic.
-POLA Completes $73M On-Dock Rail Expansion Project on Pier 400.
-Quarterly Clean Air Action Plan Updates.
-POLA Awarded $8 Million To Accelerate Its Port Optimizer Technology.
(June):
-LA/LB Ports Invest $25 Million in Truck Charging
-POLA Solicits Proposals to Develop and Operate Cruise Terminals.
-Nation’s First Commercial Electric Cargo Top Handlers Go Operational at POLA.
(May):
-POLA Cargo Rises 12% In April; Up 25% In 2024.
-POLA Nets Record $58 Million For Harbor Maintenance.

Question 10

POLA Overseen by:

Answer 10

The Mayor of Los Angeles and five-member Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners

Question 11

Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners

Answer 11

The Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners oversees the management and operation of the Port of Los Angeles. The Board is comprised of five members, all volunteers, who are appointed by the Mayor of Los Angeles and confirmed by Los Angeles City Council.

President: Lucille Roybal-Allard (ex-US representative).
Vice President: John A. Pérez (Regent for UC system).
Most were appointed by Mayor Karen Bass this year, except one, the ex-VP of the commission who has many commercial ties.

Question 12

Los Angeles Harbor Department

Answer 12

The Port of Los Angeles is a non-tax supported department of the City of Los Angeles (Los Angeles Harbor Department).

Question 13

Landlord Port

Answer 13

Operating as a landlord port with more than 200 leaseholders, the Port generates its revenues from leasing and shipping service fees. The Port’s jurisdiction is limited to the Harbor District, which includes property in San Pedro, Wilmington, and Terminal Island. All Port operations are managed by the Board of Harbor Commissioners in accordance with the Public Trust Doctrine to promote maritime, commerce, navigation, fisheries, and public access to the waterfront.

Question 14

Public Trust Doctrine

Answer 14

The Public Trust Doctrine is an ancient legal doctrine under which some waters, tidelands and wildlife resources of the State of California are held in trust for all of the people, and the State acts
as the Trustee to protect these resources for present and future generations.
“By the law of nature these things are common to mankind – the air, running
water, the sea, and consequently the shores of the sea….. All rivers and ports are public: hence the right of fishing in a port, or in rivers, is common to all men.”
— Institutes of Emperor Justinian, Book 2, Div. 1 (535 A.C.E)

Question 15

Seeking to advance innovative technology:

Answer 15

Port Optimizer™ launched in 2017: a first-of-its-kind cloudbased digital portal enabling cargo stakeholders to move goods more efficiently.

Question 16

Safety & Security of the POLA and its shipping partners:

Answer 16

Cyber Security Operations Center:
-worlds first.
-Established in 2014

Cyber Resilience Center
-First of its kind.
-Established in 2021.
-Bolstering defenses against cyber threats to the Port and maritime community.

Question 17

Size of the Port of Los Angeles Waterfront

Answer 17

-400 acres of land.
-8 miles of waterfront.
-In the surrounding harbor communities of Wilmington and San Pedro.

Question 18

Additions to the LA Waterfront that are expected to occur over the next few years.

Answer 18

-West Harbor: a mile-long complex for shopping, dining, and entertainment in San Pedro, is set to open in 2025.
-AltaSea: a 28-acre public-private ocean research institute in the Outer Harbor, will open its Centers for Innovation and Education and Engagement in 2024 and 2026, respectively.
The Wilmington Waterfront Promenade: nine acres of new public space with a plaza, pier and playground, is set to open to the public in 2024, making way for construction of the Avalon Pedestrian Bridge and Promenade Gateway project, connecting Wilmington’s business district to its historic waterfront.

Question 19

Los Angeles Pilot Service Founded in:

Answer 19

1907

Question 20

Los Angeles Pilot Service Team

Answer 20

28 dedicated professionals:
-14 pilots (1 trainee)
-5 Dispatchers.
-4 Boat Captains.
-4 Deckhands.
-1 Senior Management Analyst.

Question 21

LA Pilot Training Program

Answer 21

A comprehensive twenty-four month, seven step training program advances trainee pilots gradually, in ship’s size and difficulty to fully competent and professional pilots. Each step has observed and supervised ride requirements for graduation to the next step. Written evaluations are completed by a senior pilot on each supervised ride. Evaluation trips and progress reviews by the Chief Pilot are an essential part of each step. This is supplemented by simulator training, observing the VTS, time riding tugs, vessel traffic management and studying Port regulations, including the Harbor Safety Plan. A trainee pilot typically completes over 1000 shipmoves prior to being promoted to Port Pilot II. The training program is monitored by a Pilot Training Committee comprised of senior pilots and administered by the Chief Pilot.

Question 22

LA Pilots Additional Training

Answer 22

Each Port of Los Angeles pilot is required to attend manned ship model training every four years. Newly hired pilots are scheduled ahead of senior pilots that have already attended the training. The facilities that Los Angeles Pilot Service currently uses for this training are Port Revel Shiphandling Training Center in Grenoble, France and Warsash Maritime Academy in Southampton, England.
In addition to the manned model training, all pilots also attend ship simulator schools, such as the Pacific Maritime Institute in Seattle and the California Maritime Academy in Vallejo, every two years. The biennial simulator training is used for both continuing education and to address special circumstances, such as new terminal development and the handling of new ship types.

Question 23

Foreign Quarantine; Inspection Officer will board vessel if:

Answer 23

Inspection officer will board a vessel based on the following criteria:

1. 15 days prior to entering a U.S. port, if any crew member or passenger exhibits these symptoms:
   * Temperature of 100 degrees or higher for 48 hours, or any temperature accompanied by rash, jaundice, or glandular swelling.
   * Diarrhea severe enough to prevent performing normal duties.
   * Death aboard ship. Any ship visiting a plague-infested country within 60 days prior to entering a U.S. port.
2. Any ship that has requested a deratting inspection/exemption certificate.

Question 24

Excessive Smoke/Boiler Tube Blowing

Answer 24

If boiler tube blowing results in soot being deposited in such quantities as to create a nuisance, Section 41700 of the California Health and Safety Code will be enforced.
It shall be unlawful to discharge into the atmosphere any contaminant, other than uncombined water vapor, for a period or periods aggregating more than three minutes in any one hour, which is as dark, or darker in shade as that designated as No. 2 on the Ringelmann Chart.

Question 25

Shore power at the Port of Los Angeles - (otherwise known as Alternative Maritime Power® (AMP®)).

Answer 25

All fleets calling at California ports must shut down their auxiliary engines and plug into the electrical grid while at berth or use a CARB approved emission control system. This regulation currently applies to container ships, cruise ships, and refrigerated cargo; requirements are scheduled to apply to all auto carrier ships, rollon/roll-off ships (Ro-Ro), and tanker ships that call to the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach in 2025.

Question 26

The North American Emission Control Area

Answer 26

Requires the use less than or equal to 0.1% sulfur (in main engines, auxiliary engines and boilers) fuel 200 nm from the North America coastline, excluding Mexico.

Question 27

Vessel Speed Reduction Program

Answer 27

A voluntary program designed to reduce smog-forming emissions from ocean-going vessels that slow their speeds as they approach or depart the Port, at 20 nautical miles (nm) or 40 nm from Point Fermin (vessel’s weighted average speed must be 12 knots or less). Vessel fleet operators are rewarded incentive funding by meeting annual VSR compliance at either 20 nm or 40 nm.

Question 28

Marine Mammal Viewing Guidelines

Answer 28

• You should remain at least 100 yards (300 feet) from whales and at least 50 yards (150 feet) from dolphins, seals, and sea lions.
• Upon sighting marine mammals, stop your vessel, observe, and then attempt to parallel the animal’s course. Do not approach head on.
• Avoid sudden changes to vessel speed and direction. Dolphins and whales may surface unpredictably at any time or location.
• Do not feed, or attempt to feed, any marine mammals. It is harmful and illegal.
• Do not swim with, ride, pet, touch, or attempt to interact with marine mammals in the wild.
• Limit viewing time to 30 minutes to avoid creating unnecessary stress for the animals.

Question 29

New Recommended Minimum Separation for vessels in the Regulated Navigation Area (RNA)

Answer 29

On December 6, 2023, the Los Angeles Long Beach Harbor Safety Committee endorsed this best practice:
Power driven vessels of 1600 or more gross tons, towing vessel of 8 meters (approximately 26 feet) or over in length engaged in towing, or vessels of 100 gross tons and upward carrying one or more passengers for hire:
1. These vessels navigating within the RNA should maintain a minimum separation from other underway vessels of at least 0.5 nm unless such vessel:
a. Has a pilot on board (minimum separation is pilot’s discretion), or
b. Is within an anchorage area.