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| Los Angeles Harbor (Port of Los Angeles) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Port of Los Angeles |
| Native name | Los Angeles Harbor |
| Country | United States |
| Location | San Pedro Bay, Los Angeles County, California |
| Opened | 1907 |
| Owner | City of Los Angeles |
| Operator | Port of Los Angeles |
| Type | Natural/Artificial |
| Berths | 25+ |
| Leadership | Board of Harbor Commissioners |
Los Angeles Harbor (Port of Los Angeles) Los Angeles Harbor, commonly known as the Port of Los Angeles, is a major seaport on San Pedro Bay in San Pedro, Los Angeles and Terminal Island, California, serving as a pivotal gateway for trans-Pacific trade. It serves container shipping, bulk cargo, passenger cruise terminals, and industrial terminals, linking maritime transport to railroads such as Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway and highways including Interstate 110 and Interstate 710. The port has shaped the development of Los Angeles and adjacent communities like Long Beach, California, Wilmington, Los Angeles, and San Pedro, Los Angeles.
The harbor area was used by the Tongva people prior to contact during expeditions such as the Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo voyage and later Spanish colonial activities tied to the Viceroyalty of New Spain and the establishment of the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel. Following Mexican governance under figures like Pío Pico and events including the Mexican–American War, control passed to the United States and development accelerated with rail links by the Southern Pacific Railroad and visionaries like Phineas Banning. The creation of breakwaters and dredging projects in the late 19th and early 20th centuries paralleled federal actions under the United States Army Corps of Engineers and legislation influenced by the Rivers and Harbors Act. The port expanded through World Wars I and II, supporting fleets such as the United States Navy Pacific operations, shipbuilding at facilities akin to Todd Shipyards and North American Aviation conversion works, and postwar containerization driven by innovators like Malcolm McLean. Labor history involved unions such as the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and events connected to strike actions and negotiated accords with agencies including the National Labor Relations Board. Modernization in the late 20th century included initiatives aligned with the North American Free Trade Agreement era and global shipping alliances such as Maersk Line and Mediterranean Shipping Company.
Located within San Pedro Bay and adjacent to Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary boundaries, the port comprises terminals on Berth sections along Inner Harbor and Outer Harbor consortia on Breakwater-protected waters. Facilities include container terminals operated by entities like APL (company), COSCO Shipping, Hapag-Lloyd, Evergreen Marine, and Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation; automobile terminals used by manufacturers such as Toyota and Honda through importers and distributors; and bulk terminals handling commodities linked to firms like Kinder Morgan and Chevron Corporation. Key infrastructure projects include dredging deepwater channels to accommodate Panamax and Post-Panamax vessels, the World War II Liberty ship berths legacy, and terminal automation trials using technologies promoted by International Organization for Standardization standards. The port interfaces with maritime aids such as the Los Angeles Harbor Light and navigational corridors managed in coordination with the Pacific Coast Pilots and United States Coast Guard.
The port handles containerized cargo moving through carriers including APL (company), ZIM Integrated Shipping Services, HMM (company), and ONE (Ocean Network Express), and handles breakbulk, roll-on/roll-off, and bulk liquids managed by energy firms like Shell Oil Company and ExxonMobil. Commodities include consumer goods imported from People's Republic of China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam and exports to markets across North America and Oceania. Terminal operators such as Terminal Investment Limited affiliates and stevedoring firms like SSA Marine and Total Terminals International coordinate with labor organizations such as the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and regulatory bodies including the United States Department of Transportation. Cruise operations involve lines like Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, and Royal Caribbean International calling at facilities near San Pedro and Long Beach, California ports.
Intermodal connectivity links the port to rail corridors owned by Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway with on-dock and near-dock railyards, while truck gates interface with corridors along Interstate 110 (Harbor Freeway), Interstate 710 (Long Beach Freeway), and surface arterials such as State Route 47 and State Route 103. Logistics providers include global freight forwarders like DHL Express, FedEx, and Kuehne + Nagel and third-party logistics firms coordinating customs clearance with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Supply chain events such as the COVID-19 pandemic disruptions and the 2021 Suez Canal obstruction had ripple effects on container dwell time, chassis pools managed by firms like TRAC Intermodal, and intermodal scheduling overseen by port IT platforms integrating standards from BIC (business identifier codes) and W3C-aligned APIs.
Environmental measures have involved air quality programs in partnership with South Coast Air Quality Management District, clean truck initiatives influenced by California Air Resources Board rules, and mitigation projects coordinated with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and United States Fish and Wildlife Service for habitats including those near Los Cerritos Wetlands and Ballona Wetlands. Pollution incidents have prompted action involving Environmental Protection Agency statutes and reporting under the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act, while ballast water management follows the International Maritime Organization guidelines and United States Coast Guard regulations. Safety responses to incidents engage Los Angeles Fire Department, United States Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach, and emergency preparedness aligned with Federal Emergency Management Agency protocols.
The port is a major economic engine for Los Angeles County, California, supporting cargo-related employment among firms such as Maersk Line, Cosco Shipping Lines, Hanjin Shipping legacy stakeholders, terminal operators like Pacific Maritime Association-affiliated companies, and logistics suppliers including XPO Logistics. It influences trade ties with regions represented by missions such as U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue and hemispheric trade under agreements like United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement. Social impacts affect adjacent communities including San Pedro, Los Angeles, Wilmington, Los Angeles, and Terminal Island, California where port development intersects with housing, labor history involving figures related to the ILWU, and philanthropic efforts from foundations such as Annenberg Foundation and regional planning bodies like the Southern California Association of Governments.
The port is administered by the Port of Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners under the jurisdiction of the City of Los Angeles, coordinating with agencies including the United States Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, California Environmental Protection Agency, and regional authorities such as the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Policy and master planning processes engage stakeholders including labor unions like the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, industry groups such as the American Association of Port Authorities, environmental NGOs including the Natural Resources Defense Council, and academic partners at institutions like University of Southern California and California State University, Long Beach. Licensing, leasing, and capital improvement decisions are influenced by federal funding streams, state infrastructure programs, and municipal bond instruments under California law.
Category:Ports and harbors of California Category:Los Angeles