Many American ports run expansion programs to handle the next generation of container vessels. Billions of dollars will be invested in several projects in the upcoming years. Thomas Wägener reports on the most important measures
In comparison to main European ports like Rotterdam, Hamburg or Antwerp, the US main ports Los Angeles, Long Beach, New[ds_preview] York/New Jersey and Savannah are a bit behind the European ones in terms of turnover figures these days. Only Los Angeles ascended towards the Top 20 in the list of the busiest ports in the world in 2012.
In the next years, the US government and private investors will invest billions of dollars in the port infrastructure all over the country. If the expansion of the Panama Canal will be completed in summer 2015, America will be prepared for the new post-panamax container vessels. It is expected that the vessel capacity average for the US main ports will increase tremendously when the new canal is opened. The following descriptions basically focus on container traffic.
Los Angeles
The biggest US port regarding container handling is Los Angeles. The port area includes eight different container terminals: The West Basin Container Terminal – established by a joint venture between China Shipping Line, Yang Ming and Ports America in 2002 – Trans Pacific Container Terminal (TraPac), Port of Los Angeles Container Terminal, Yusen Container Terminal and California United Terminals in addition to the shipping lines’ own terminals (Evergreen, APL and Maersk). In total, they handled more than 8mill. TEU in 2012, which means position 16 in the list of the busiest container ports worldwide*.
But in 2013 the numbers were declining. Last year, Los Angeles lost more than 200,000 TEU to 7.87mill. TEU – in spite of the moderniztion of the terminals. From October 2008 until March 2012 Manson Construction realized a large container wharf project. The company said it was the biggest major development during the last five years in the port. Referring to this, the company helped to modernize and expand the TraPac. This included additional capacity at the terminal area, deepening of the berths and upgrading the existing land to state-of-the-art container handling hinterland standards as well as the construction of a new on-dock rail facility.
In August 2013, the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Comissioners approved a new Port Master Plan. The document includes the Port’s long-term goals of making the most productive use of its land and water resources, increasing terminal efficiency, accomodating diverse cargoes, increasing public access to the waterfront, enhancing recreational uses, and working to preserve the port’s heritage through adaptive reuse of historic buildings and sites.
Long Beach
Long Beach ranked 22nd in the table of the busiest container ports worldwide in 2012 with a handling of about 6 mill. TEU*. Last year the container handling in Long Beach grew rapidly to more than 6.7mill. TEU. A main reason was that the two leading shipping companies MSC and CMA CGM invested in this area at the beginning of 2013. Long Beach includes six container terminals. Similar to Los Angeles, a port development plan also exists for Long Beach. The flagship project is the redevelopment of the Middle Harbor. In this area, the shipping company OOCL will invest 4.6 bill. $ to develop a new green terminal with modern technology, which is to replace two aging shipping terminals. That should ensure that the shipping company and its subsidiary, Long Beach Container Terminal, may use the facility for the next 40 years. OOCL has ordered 72 battery-powered automated guided vehicles (AGV) by Terex Gottwald for the new terminal. The order includes a battery-changing station and fleet management software.
Another big project is the moderniztion of Pier G where the ITS (International Transport Service) container terminal is located. More than 470mill. $ have been invested in improvements, and still on the way are additional shore power facilities and container yard space.
The third huge project is the replacement of the Gerald Desmond Bridge. This bridge is connecting Long Beach with Los Angeles. The new bridge will be built with a cable-stayed design and will be high enough to let pass the newest generation of cargo ships. In addition, it will be wider and better able to handle existing and future traffic volumes. Shimmick Construction, FCC Construction and Impreglio S.p.A. (SFI) were commissioned to realize the project.
New York/New Jersey
Not far behind Long Beach in the list of the busiest container ports in the world are the two locations New York/New Jersey. In 2012, they handled 5.5mill. TEU which results in position 24 in the global port container handling statistics*. The different container terminals in New York/New Jersey include the Port Newark Container Terminal, Global Container Terminal, Maher Terminal, New York Container Terminal, APM Terminal and Red Hook Terminal.
The main container shipping lines dock their vessels at different berths. Nearly every terminal has post-panamax cranes and the APM Terminal is even fitted out with four super-post-panamax-cranes for larger vessels. To accomodate ULCS with more draft the harbor is deepened. It is expected that the so-called Harbor Deepening Project (HDP) will be finished already this year. In addition, the Port Authority of NY & NJ and its terminal-operating partners invest more than 3 bill. $ in the respective infrastructure. The goal is to double the terminal capacity in the coming decade.
For example, the company TMEIC has received an order from Global Container Terminal to provide automation systems for 20 automatic rail mounted gantry (RMG) cranes by Konecranes at the beginning of this year. This contract is part of the expansion of the terminal in Bayonne, New Jersey. It is expected that the expansion will be finished in the second quarter of 2014. Then the capacity for this terminal will increase up to 1.1mill. TEU per year.
The RMG cranes will use TMEIC’s reliable TMdrive-10e2 variable frequency drives as part of the MaxSpeed advanced crane control system platform. The cranes will also feature the advanced MaxView optical guidance systems and the CraneDirector system to coordinate the interface with the Terminal Operating System developed by Navis.
Savannah
For the ports of Savannah and Brunswick the Georgia Port Authority (GPA) is responsible. Whilst Brunswick concentrates on general cargo, bulk and car handling, Savannah mainly deals with containers. In 2012, Savannah handled nearly 3mill. TEU, that means position 44 in the worldwide container handling statistics*.
As the other port locations in the USA, Savannah also prepares for the future container vessels and focuses on green shipping as well. Because of that, four electrified rubber-tired gantry cranes (ERTG) were installed at the end of 2012. According to the GPA, Savannah was the first port in North America to introduce this cleaner and more efficient method of operation. The new technology reduces fuel consumption by an estimated 95%, the port authority said. The ERTG system was developed with the help of the partners Konecranes, Conductix-Wampfler and Georgia Power, which provided the cranes, the power system and the electrical infrastructure, respectively.
In October 2013, four super-post-panamax ship-to-shore cranes that had arrived at the Port of Savannah in June started operation at GPA’s Garden City Terminal. Each of the new cranes can lift up to 65t. According to the GPA, the average vessel calling on the US East Coast is expected to grow from a capacity of 4,500 TEU to approximately 9,000TEU when the new Panama Canal locks will open in 2015.
Miami/Fort Lauderdale
The Port of Miami is well known all over the world for its cruise shipping sector. At seven cruise terminals in Fort Lauderdale the biggest cruise liners in the world can be berthed. The terminals D and E have a size of 105,000 square-feet. Three-story structures can accommodate travellers sailing on mega-ships which are capable of carrying as much as 5,000 passengers. Both terminals have a VIP lounge, a high-tech security screening facility for embarkation, airline counters and an airport-style conveyor baggage system. Additionally, each features a one-stop federal multi-agency facility for passenger processing.
Terminal J was designed to cater to travellers sailing on Oceania Cruises, Crystal Cruises and Azamara Cruise Lines as well as Regent Seven Seas. The terminal recently underwent a 3 mill. $ facelifting. Upgrades include new furniture, additional lounge seating, a complete renovation of restrooms, new check-in counters, and exotic landscaping in the atrium.
The Port of Miami is also equipped with a container terminal. This facility, which is called South Florida Container Terminal, is gearing up for the post-panamax era, too. The planned improvements include the deepening of the port’s main channel of up to 50 feet to make sure that post-panamax vessels are able to maneuver safely. This 220mill. $ project is managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers and undertaken by Great Lakes Dredge & Dock. The dredging operations of deepening and widening the fairway have been started at the end of November last year.
In October 2013, four new super-post-panamax cranes have already been added, so the number of these cranes increased to six. They can handle vessels with a wide range of up to 22 containers. Furthermore, the port is fitted out with seven smaller and older cranes. Among the biggest container companies, Seaboard Marine is a main user of the South Florida Container Terminal. This ocean transportation company provides direct regular services between the United States and the Caribbean Basin, Central and South America.
The construction of a port tunnel for improved interstate access and the restoration of an on-port rail service are other main projects in Miami, for which investments of in total 2 bill. $ are planned.
Thomas Wägener
