Imagine mudflats transforming into a bustling hub. That is the story of Long Beach Middle Harbor. Founded in 1911 on 800 acres of mudflats, it sat at the mouth of the Los Angeles River. This marked the beginning of its journey.
In 1917, the first Board of Harbor Commissioners formed. They supervised the burgeoning harbor operations. Long Beach voters approved a $5 million bond in 1924. This bond improved both the inner and outer harbor.
By 1926, Long Beach Middle Harbor handled over one million tons of cargo. More piers were built to handle the growing business. Oil was discovered in 1921 at the Long Beach Oil Field. The Wilmington Oil Field was discovered in 1932. It became the fourth-largest oil field in the United States. Much of it lay beneath Long Beach and the harbor.
The oil wells provided significant revenue to Long Beach. The first offshore oil well came online in 1937. The port expanded in the mid-1930s. This was largely to transport oil to foreign markets. The Los Angeles Basin’s oil output had glutted US markets.
The extraction of oil caused land subsidence. Engineers built dikes to control flooding at high tide.
In 1930, Procter & Gamble opened a manufacturing plant. It was located on what is now Pier C. The plant closed in 1988. Long Beach became a home port for the US Navy’s Pacific Fleet in 1932. The Navy purchased 105 acres on Terminal Island in 1940. They built the Long Beach Naval Shipyard there.
In 1946, after World War II, Long Beach Middle Harbor was modern. It had the first of nine clear-span transit sheds. Concerns about subsidence led to Operation “Big Squirt” in 1960. This water injection program halted the sinking land.
By 1972, Long Beach Middle Harbor was the largest container terminal in America. Pollution increased with this expansion. The port implemented programs to control oil spills and manage vessel traffic. It was awarded the American Association of Port Authorities Environmental “E” Award. Long Beach was the first harbor in the Western Hemisphere to receive this award.
In 1979, officials visited the People’s Republic of China. China Ocean Shipping Co. designated Long Beach as its first US port of call. In 1991, Hanjin Shipping opened a container terminal on Pier C.
From the late 1990s through 2011, traffic and growth increased. The Navy closed its footprint in 2001. The surge in cargo led to increased environmental efforts. In 2004, the port complied with air pollution mandates.
In 2007, older diesel trucks were banned from serving the port. The Clean Trucks Program launched in 2011. It aimed to reduce air pollution from trucks by 80% by 2012.
A strike in 2012 closed the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. The eight-day strike cost California about $8 billion. In 2019, COSCO Shipping sold its Long Beach Container Terminal business.
In 2023, the port unveiled a fleet of 33 battery-powered yard tractors. A fuel cell plant was approved in 2020. This plant would produce power and hydrogen from natural gas.
Long Beach Middle Harbor handles nearly $100 billion in imports and exports annually. It supports many jobs. The Green Port Policy was adopted in 2005. This policy aimed to reduce pollution. The Clean Air Action Plan was implemented in 2007. It was designed to improve air quality. The Green Flag incentive program encourages ships to slow down. This improves air quality.
Long Beach Middle Harbor is governed by the City of Long Beach. The Harbor Commissioners set policies for the port. The port started outreach events to improve community relations. These include the Green Port Fest and free boat tours.
The Port opened a Command and Control Center in 2009. The Long Beach Harbor Patrol ensures security.
Today, Long Beach Middle Harbor stands as a testament to transformation. It grew from mudflats to a modern green port. Its history reflects innovation and a commitment to sustainability.