Landside Crane Girder Extension in Berths 218-220 at the Port of Los Angeles

The Port of Los Angeles (POLA) has a strong commitment to developing innovative strategic and sustainable operations that benefit the economy as well as the quality of life for the region and the nation it serves. Currently, POLA is upgrading several container wharves to accommodate larger ship sizes. As part of the Berths 214-220 wharf upgrade project, Berths 218-220 will be upgraded to increase the ship-to-shore crane from a 50 ft gauge to a 100 ft gauge. Berths 218-220’s existing wharf structures were constructed at different times and vary in age from 30 to 50 years old and are currently operated under a 25-yr lease that expires in 2016; however, POLA intends to extend this lease for an additional 10 yrs. Due to the wharf structure’s age, and uncertainty in future crane sizes, the upgraded wharves were seismically evaluated using spectra of a seismic hazard with a 50% probability of exceedance in 50 yrs, and a 72-yr recurrence. The upgraded tie-beam connection to the existing wharf were seismically evaluated using spectra of a reduced seismic hazard with a 50% probability of exceedance in 25 yrs, and a 36-yr recurrence. The design of the upgraded wharf at Berths 218-220 was completed in April 2015. Construction started in September 2015. This paper discusses the landside crane girder, piles, and tie-beam design, as well as the seismic evaluation, and challenges faced during design.