China Shipping finishes LA terminal expansion

China Shipping has completed a US$47.6 million expansion of its terminal expansion project at the port of Los Angeles, adding a 925-foot section of wharf, 18 acres of backland and four post-Panamax cranes.


“The completion of this critical phase allows for the berthing of two ships simultaneously and positively positions China Shipping and the port for considerable growth opportunities,” said China Shipping chairman Li Shaode.


Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa welcomed the carrier’s long-term commitment to the port and to the environment.


“This is a global company that has made a major financial investment in Los Angeles to significantly grow its business using the cleanest technology available,” he said.


Port of Los Angeles executive director Geraldine Knatz said partnerships with companies such as China Shipping allowed the port to grow “smartly and efficiently” while creating jobs and opportunity throughout the region.


“This expansion enables China Shipping to continue its remarkable growth and better serve its customers around the world,” she said in a statement.


China Shipping operates the West Basin Container Terminal at the Port of Los Angeles. With the recent expansion phase completed, the terminal now has 2,125 feet of wharf space and eight super post-Panamax cranes.


The terminal handles cargo operations for China Shipping, Yang Ming, “K” Line, Cosco, Hanjin, Sinotrans and Zim carriers.


China’s second largest carrier also has a joint venture with a neighboring container terminal at the port, operated by Yang Ming Line.


As part of the latest improvements, an access bridge was also constructed between China Shipping and Yang Ming for efficient truck movement of cargo between the two terminals.


Over the next three years, 375 feet of additional wharf space will be added, along with more backland space that will eventually double the size of China Shipping’s terminal to 142 acres.


When completed, China Shipping’s expanded terminal operations will facilitate more than 8,400 direct permanent and indirect jobs, and it will increase container terminal capacity to accommodate an annual throughput of 1.5 million TEUs.


China Shipping plans to install two additional super Post-Panamax cranes after the final wharf expansion is completed, bringing the total crane count to 10.


Dozens of environmental measures are in place at China Shipping, including the use of shore side “alternative maritime power” (AMP) by vessels at berth.


In 2004, China Shipping became the first container ship line in the world to plug ships into shore-side electric power while at berth at the Port of Los Angeles. The measure eliminates the release of roughly a tonne of ship emissions every 24 hours a ship is at berth.


Other environmental measures include:


- 100 percent compliance with the Port’s Vessel Speed Reduction Program (VSRP) for ships transiting within 40 miles of the Port, a measure that further reduces container ship emissions in the South Coast Air Basin;
- Use of low-sulfur fuel on container ships within 40 nautical miles of the port;
- Upcoming construction of a main terminal building to be constructed to “Gold” certification-level Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED);
- Use of alternative-fueled yard tractors;
- Use of diesel particulate filters on lower-emission switcher locomotives.


China Shipping service at the Port of Los Angeles first started on December 3, 1999, when the Trade Apollo, a 2,500-TEU container ship, called at the Yang Ming Terminal from the Port of Xiamen.
(Source:http://www.cargonewsasia.com)