Long Beach's Middle Harbor—First Modern Terminal Proposed under New Environmental Rules

In the latter part of the 1900's the current Pier E and Pier F container terminals at the Port of Long Beach, CA were built and are now in need of upgrade and major modification. The proposed concept is to take the Pier E 143-acre terminal and combine it with the adjacent Pier F 101-acre terminal, and includes adding a landfill in waterways and channels to end up with a contiguous 340-acre modern Middle Harbor container terminal conforming to the Port of Long Beach Green Port Policies and Clean Air Action Plan. Over the last few years the Port has undergone a complete overhaul of the environmental review process and has implemented a variety of plans and policies to reduce the environmental effects associated with Port operations. The Middle Harbor Container Terminal project will require construction and operation mitigation measures incorporated in the design to reduce environmental effects. This paper will show how these measures have been managed including reduced air impacts that establish a foundation for the terminal to have electrified equipment and efficient container handling. Design considerations include berth capacity for three 12,600 TEU vessels at one time, RMG serviced container yard, RMG serviced intermodal yard, and throughput capacity of over 3 million TEUs per year. The design challenges include constrained working areas within operating terminals with significant geotechnical considerations, and structural implications from what most likely will be the first 42 meter gage dual hoist tandem 40 quay cranes in the U.S. This paper provides the master planning overview and proposed companion papers carry the structural considerations to greater detail.