An effort is underway at the Port of Los Angeles to raise the height of some cranes to accommodate a trend in larger vessels in order to stay competitive and preserve jobs at the nation’s busiest seaport, a port official said today.
Ten cranes have been raised and the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners recently approved a request by APM Terminals to raise the height of 14 more, according to Phillip Sanfield of the Port of Los Angeles.
“This is all geared toward the bigger ships that are coming into L.A. and we are already prepared for them, but this is the next step, the next era in shipping,” Sanfield told Video News West, adding that the cranes will be raised 14 feet vertically and 10 feet horizontally to allow for greater reach.
Some 45 percent of imports come into the United States through the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The Port of Los Angeles has seen an 8 percent growth in cargo over the past year.
The higher cranes means big ships don’t have to wait for low tide or add additional ballast. It’s also part of a strategy to make sure the port stays competitive, according to Sanfield.
“This is another step toward ensuring that the jobs stay here in the Port of Los Angeles,” Sanfield said.
Raising the cranes takes a couple of months of planning, including seismic studies before work can begin. The cost is $1 million to $1.5 million for each crane, as opposed to spending $10 to $15 million for a new one, Sanfield said.
Bigger ships do not necessarily mean more cargo is coming in. Companies are sending fewer ships, but the ones that do go out are bigger with more cargo space, Sanfield said.
