Seismic Design of the Unloading Platform and North Trestle at the Port of Los Angeles Pier 400 Crude Oil Marine Terminal

This paper addresses the seismic design of some structural components of the Pier 400 Crude Oil Marine Terminal at the Port of Los Angeles (POLA). With 81 feet (24.64m) water depth at the pier headline, this project will be the largest tanker-handling berth on the West Coast. It is located in a region of high seismic activity and challenging geological sub-surface conditions. These factors combine to present unique design issues. The paper is limited to the seismic analysis and design of the Unloading Platform and the North Trestle providing access to the platform. It describes the geotechnical conditions and areas of special interest, mainly problems encountered in connection with the large horizontal displacements of these structures. Of particular interest is the issue of determining the minimum necessary gap between the trestle and the platform to accommodate the relative displacement of both structures to avoid damaging closure.