LBCT is part of the port’s Middle Harbour Terminal Redevelopment Program, which is now entering Phase 3. This includes a quay extension, with new connection points for the shore power system, but, in the interim, LBCT faces a connection problem.

Two vessel strings deploying 13,000 and 9,000 TEU ships are scheduled to start calling simultaneously from April 2018. Due to the length of the vessels, the shore power connection points on the ships and the wharf will not align with the vessel connection equipment until the Phase 3 quay is complete.

Vessels calling at LBCT are required to connect to shore power while at berth, in accordance with the mitigation measures in the project Environmental Impact Report and California Air Resources Board regulation. The port, therefore, wants to use cable extensions as a temporary measure until the Phase 3 quay is ready.

As all the existing shore power outlets at the terminal (and at all other container terminals in Long Beach and Los Angeles) were manufactured by Cavotec USA, and use Cavotec patented connectors, the temporary system also needs to be sourced from Cavotec. This type of sole-source contract by a public body is allowed under the California Public Contract Code.

The temporary system will cost US$435,000.

Long Beach Container Terminal is gearing up to handle bigger ships from 2018, and will initially utilise a temporary cold ironing solution

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This complete item is approximately 300 words in length, and appeared in the October 2017 issue of WorldCargo News, on page 5. To access this issue download the PDF here.