Comprehensive Guide to the Port of Long Beach, USA 2024

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port of long beach

Introduction to the Port of Long Beach, USA

The Port of Long Beach (Port of Long Beach) is one of the busiest cargo ports in the world and one of the largest deepwater ports on the West Coast of the USA. It is in Long Beach, California, next to the Port of Los Angeles. Due to their proximity, the two ports are often collectively referred to as the “Los Angeles/Long Beach Port Complex. “Together, they handle a large volume of import and export cargo.

Port Size and Facilities

The Port of Long Beach’s facilities encompass container terminals, bulk terminals, liquid chemical terminals, oil terminals, and specialty cargo terminals. With a deep-water harbor capable of accommodating the world’s largest container ships, it is one of the most crucial cargo ports in the world.
Container Handling Capacity: The Port of Long Beach has a very strong container handling capacity and can handle a large volume of containerized cargo, especially imported and exported goods from China, Southeast Asia, Europe, and other regions.

Location and Background

Location: The Port of Long Beach is in southern California, close to downtown Los Angeles, and offers abundant transportation and logistical advantages. It is an important trade hub between the US, Asia, and Europe.

Historical Background: Since its opening in 1911, the Port of Long Beach has become one of the world’s leading ports. As the second largest port in the US (after the Port of Los Angeles), it is vital to the US’s international trade and economic growth.

Economic Importance of the Ports

The Port of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles complex handle a significant portion of the total cargo volume in the USA daily, especially in container handling. The ports are also responsible for the critical movement of goods between the USA and Asia.

The Port of Long Beach is vital to the United States’s foreign trade. It mainly imports and exports various goods, including electronics, consumer goods, machinery and equipment, automobiles, and petroleum.Each year, economic activity at the Port of Long Beach generates billions of dollars in output for the US and provides jobs for thousands of people.

Transportation and Logistics

Road Transportation: The Port of Long Beach is connected to the inland region by freeways, particularly the I-710 freeway in California, which transports goods to distribution centers in Los Angeles and other inland areas.

Rail: The Port is well connected to several railroad networks, notably the BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad, which support the long-distance movement of bulk cargo.

Air Freight: While the Port of Long Beach primarily handles Sea Freight cargo, its proximity to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) facilitates rapid cargo transshipment via Air Freight.

What terminals are there in the Port of Long Beach?

Malcolm McLean Terminal

What: This is one of the leading container terminals in the Port of Long Beach, operated by International Sea Freight Service, Inc.

Function: It handles mainly containerized traffic and carries a large volume of international trade cargo.

TCT Long Beach Terminal

What: Operated by Total Terminals International, LLC, this is one of the primary container handling terminals.

Features: The terminal is known for its high degree of automation, which allows for the efficient handling of containerized cargo.

Port of Long Beach Pier J

What: This is a central container terminal at the Port of Long Beach, operated by American President Lines (APL).

Function: The terminal is responsible for moving containers in and out of the port and handles a large cargo volume between Asia and the US.

Pier G Terminal

Features: Operated by Long Beach Container Terminal, LBCT.

Function: It is one of the important container handling facilities in the Port of Long Beach, focusing on the loading, unloading, and transshipment of containerized cargo.

Pier E Terminal

What: This terminal is also managed by Long Beach Container Terminal, LBCT.

Features: Serves containerized transportation and has advanced automation equipment to increase efficiency.

Citadel Terminal

Characteristics: A terminal that handles primarily bulk and breakbulk cargo.

Function: Although primarily focused on bulk cargo transportation, it also provides other cargo handling services.

Long Beach Oil Terminal

Characteristics: A terminal that handles cargoes such as petroleum products and liquid chemicals.

Function: Mainly used for importing and exporting petroleum products, it is a crucial energy transportation hub for the Port of Long Beach.

Sam Gilbert Terminal

Features: Used for handling liquid bulk cargoes (e.g., oil, chemicals) and dry bulk cargoes (e.g., ore, coal), etc.

Function: Mainly used for the entry and exit of non-containerized cargoes.

West Long Beach Terminal

Features: This is a smaller terminal mainly used for handling some specialized cargoes and scattered containerized cargoes.

Function: Provides essential cargo handling and storage services.

LBCT (Long Beach Container Terminal)

Features: One of the largest single container handling terminals in the Port of Long Beach, often in conjunction with the Port of Los Angeles.

Function: Mainly for container loading and unloading, with highly automated equipment.

Long Beach Fishing Harbor

Features: Primarily serves commercial fishing and recreational fishing.

Function: Provides unloading and transportation services for fishing goods.

Pier T

Features: This is one of the most important terminals in the Port of Long Beach and one of the largest container terminals.

Function: It is mainly used for handling a large amount of containerized cargo and serves several international shipping companies.

Golden Pier (Pier F)

Characteristics: It focuses on handling unique and high-value cargoes.

Function: Provides customized handling services for some specific commodities (e.g., automobiles, electronic products).

Which ports do different shipping companies call at?

Shipping CompanyMain Terminal LocationsTerminal Details
Maersk LineTCT Long Beach Terminal & LBCTThese terminals are among the most modern and automated container terminals globally, handling a large volume of containers for Maersk.
MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company)LBCTMSC shares facilities at LBCT with Maersk, handling a significant amount of container cargo.
CMA CGMMalcolm McLean Terminal & TCT Long Beach TerminalCMA CGM shares these terminals with other shipping companies, providing efficient container handling services.
Hapag-LloydLBCT & Malcolm McLean TerminalHapag-Lloyd shares these terminals with other companies for container transport.
ONE (Ocean Network Express)LBCT & TCT Long Beach TerminalONE shares these modern, automated terminals with other shipping companies, providing efficient container handling.
Yang MingTCT Long Beach Terminal & Malcolm McLean TerminalYang Ming handles a large volume of containers at these terminals, especially at the highly automated TCT Long Beach Terminal.
EvergreenTCT Long Beach Terminal & LBCTEvergreen handles global container transport at these modern and efficient terminals.
COSCO (China COSCO Shipping Corporation)LBCT & TCT Long Beach TerminalCOSCO shares these terminals with other global shipping companies for large-scale container handling operations.
HMM (Hyundai Merchant Marine)LBCTHMM primarily handles container transport at LBCT, utilizing the terminal’s efficient processing capabilities.
ZIMMalcolm McLean Terminal & TCT Long Beach TerminalZIM handles smaller-scale container cargo at these terminals, mainly at TCT Long Beach Terminal.

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