UPDATE: Operation at Long Beach Cargo Terminals Back on Track

Port of Long Beach
Port of Long Beach

The Port of Long Beach resumed full cargo-handling operations on Thursday, Aug. 28, after a lessening of storm surges from Hurricane Marie that had battered south-facing piers and interrupted the loading and unloading of four vessels a day earlier.


With swells down to 8 to 10 feet, from a peak of 15 feet or more on Wednesday, Total Terminals International on Pier T went back to work on two Mediterranean Shipping Co. container ships. Crescent Terminal on Pier F also resumed the unloading of Mercedes-Benz automobiles and windStorm Shuts Down Two Cargo Terminals at Long Beach1 towers from two vessels.

All other terminals at the Port of Long Beach remained open for vessel operations during the storm surge, and trucking operations at all terminals, including at TTI and Crescent, were unaffected.

The Port’s maintenance and engineering teams were working to clear rocks and debris washed onto roadways and terminals.  There continued to be limited access to the Navy Mole extending from Pier T. The main road on the Mole, Nimitz Road, remained strewn with rocks and was closed pending an engineering assessment. There was only limited access in the area for the staff at the Sea Launch satellite launching facility and U.S. Maritime Administration supply ship.

According to the Port, the surges were so powerful Tuesday night that heavy rocks from tPort of Long Beachhe Navy Mole breakwater were tossed onto the nearby roadway.

Road damage was reported on Nimitz Road near the Sea Launch satellite-launch vessels, closing the roadway pending repairs. Sea Launch employees were being escorted through the nearby TTI terminal to get to their offices.

In addition, two barges broke loose from their anchorage overnight Tuesday, and were later towed and docked at berths T136 and T134. A pleasure craft also had to be towed to safety.

No injuries have been reported.

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Press Release, August 29, 2014; Images: PQM, Port of Long Beach