Porti & ambiente — le notizie raccolte

posted by AJOT | Jun 30 2026 at 12:21 PM |Ports & Terminals California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) Secretary Toks Omishakin visited the Port of Long Beach to see how a record-setting state grant from California’s Port and Freight Infrastructure Program is being put into action to support more than 22,000 jobs, reduce emissions and build a modern, sustainable supply chain at one of America’s busiest ports. Omishakin, along with officials from the Port, state and ILWU Locals 13, 63 and 94 gathered at SSA Terminals’ Pier C facility, a joint venture between SSA Marine and Matson, to celebrate the acquisition of 15 zero-emission, human-operated, American-made yard tractors, associated charging infrastructure and a tugboat repowered to a low-emission engine. The equipment was acquired with help from the Port of Long Beach’s System-Wide Investment in Freight Transport, or SWIFT program. SWIFT is funded by CalSTA’s historic, $1.3 billion Port and Freight Infrastructure Program (PFIP), championed by Gov. Gavin Newsom and approved by the state Legislature in response to pandemic-era supply chain disruptions. In 2023, the Port received a record $383 million in PFIP grant funding to supercharge multiple zero-emissions projects. The PFIP grant also included more than $158 million to advance the Port’s rail support facility at Pier B, which will shift more cargo from trucks to on-dock rail. In addition to creating 22,000 jobs, the funding will advance projects eliminating more than 12% of all carbon dioxide emissions and more than 5% of nitrogen oxide emissions associated with Port-related operations annually by 2028. “Governor Newsom’s historic commitment to freight infrastructure is strengthening our supply chains and creating economic opportunities for people across the state,” said Omishakin. “The progress seen at the Port of Long Beach is an incredible example of what’s possible when we make intentional investments in our infrastructure." “Cleaner and new equipment at our ports means less pollution, more jobs, and a better quality of life for our communities,” said State Sen. Lena Gonzalez, D-Long Beach. “Thank you to Governor Newsom, CalSTA Secretary Toks Omishakin, the Port of Long Beach, and all partners for helping us move toward a healthier and stronger economic future for California.” “This historic investment shows what's possible when California commits to strengthening our supply chain while protecting the communities that keep it moving,” said Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, D-Long Beach. “These projects are creating good union jobs, accelerating the transition to zero-emission operations and ensuring the Port of Long Beach remains the gold standard for innovation and sustainability. I'm proud to have helped secure this funding and will continue fighting for investments that benefit our workers, our economy and our environment.” “The equipment we're celebrating today will reduce emissions, result in improved health for local neighborhoods and ensure our city's port builds on its place as global sustainability leader,” said Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson. “We are thankful to our state leaders for their commitment to innovation and investment in California's ports, which are key drivers of economic output and job creation here and across the country.” “The Port of Long Beach is using financial incentives and leveraging grant funding to accelerate our transition to zero-emissions operations,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Frank Colonna. “These efforts are amplified by the PFIP program, and we are grateful to Secretary Omishakin for CalSTA's support for this important work and the leadership of Governor Newsom and the state Legislature.” “The Port of the Future will be faster, more efficient and cleaner and will require strong partnerships and significant financial investment,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Dr. Noel Hacegaba. “Thanks to the state's commitment to a more sustainable supply chain and support from partners like SSA Terminals, Matson and the ILWU, the Port of Long Beach is accelerating our path to becoming the world’s first zero-emissions port.” “SSA Marine is committed to environmental responsibility, operational efficiency, and environmental innovation across our operations,” said Nicolas Gauthier, President of SSA Marine’s Global Container Division. “We are proud to partner with the Port of Long Beach and the State of California on this deployment of 15 zero-emission yard tractors, and we look forward to transitioning additional zero-emission cargo handling equipment at the port in the future.” “The thousands of men and women from the ILWU are the lifeblood of the ports and come to work every day to make sure people get their goods safely and efficiently,” said International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 13 President Mario Medina. “We thank the Port of Long Beach and State of California for their partnership and for helping fund new human-operated cargo-handling equipment and other zero-emission infrastructure through the PFIP program.” More than $200 million in PFIP funding funneled through SWIFT is being used for human-operated, zero-emission cargo-handling equipment, charging infrastructure, low-emission harbor craft and shore power expansions. The new, battery-electric, human-operated yard tractors at Pier C were made by Orange EV in Kansas City, Kansas. The vehicles are part of $37.8 million in awards for zero-emissions cargo-handling equipment at Pier C under the SWIFT program. Next year, SSA Terminals is expected to add nine battery electric top handlers and associated infrastructure at Pier C as part of an additional $28.8 million project. The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners authorized $58.2 million in additional SWIFT funding to purchase additional zero-emissions human-operated cargo-handling equipment, cleaner harbor craft and a zero-emissions locomotive. The award will allow tenants and operators to acquire 61 zero-emissions human-operated cargo-handling equipment units along with 21 charging units, deploy six zero-emissions harbor craft and five cleaner harbor craft that displace older diesel engines, and advance one zero-emissions locomotive. The Port of Long Beach – with 21% of its cargo-handling fleet zero-emissions, has one of the largest such fleets in the nation.

June 26, 2026 Image: Adobe Stock Listen to this article: The Port of Long Beach announced two clean freight actions this week, launching a Green Truck Corridor to Mexico and approving $58.2 million for additional clean technology at the port. The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners authorized the $58.2 million on June 24 to support the purchase and deployment of zero-emission cargo-handling equipment, charging infrastructure, cleaner harbor craft, zero-emission harbor craft, and one zero-emission locomotive. The funding will allow tenants and operators to purchase 61 units of electric-powered, human-operated cargo-handling equipment and 21 chargers. It will also support the deployment of six zero-emission harbor craft and five cleaner harbor craft to replace older diesel engines, along with one zero-emission locomotive. “Expanding our clean technology portfolio is critical to the future of goods movement and to the health of the communities around us,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Noel Hacegaba. “We are not waiting for the future to arrive, we are shaping it and leading the way by deploying the latest zero-emission equipment to make a difference today.” The funding comes from California’s State Transportation Agency for System-Wide Investment in Freight Transport program. The initiative is intended to support deployment of cleaner technologies, improve goods movement efficiency, and reduce environmental impacts on neighboring communities. “The Port of Long Beach continues to invest in zero-emission infrastructure and deploy a suite of incentives for early adopters of these technologies,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Frank Colonna. “This latest round of funding builds on the Port’s broader SWIFT program, which is accelerating the transition to zero-emission operations while improving the reliability and efficiency of cargo movement.” The clean technology approval came one day before the port announced the launch of a Green Truck Corridor to Mexico. The corridor is the latest addition to the port’s clean freight efforts and follows the port’s May announcement of a port-powered Green Truck Corridor connecting Long Beach with California’s Central Valley. The Mexico corridor is intended to support cleaner freight movement between the Port of Long Beach and Mexico. The announcement adds a cross-border component to the port’s growing focus on green goods movement routes and zero-emission freight infrastructure. The earlier Central Valley corridor was established through a memorandum of understanding between the Port of Long Beach, The Wonderful Company, and Lincoln Transportation Services. That agreement created a framework for collaboration on a route connecting Long Beach with the Central Valley, where more than 300,000 TEUs of imports and exports move annually between the San Pedro Bay ports complex and the southern Central Valley. The Port of Long Beach has said the Central Valley corridor is designed to connect port operations, inland logistics capacity, and emerging zero-emission trucking opportunities in a planned system intended to improve efficiency over time.

« Our Water and Sewer Bills Need to Increase Regularly If We Want Safe and Reliable Service, Grand Jury Report Concludes ‘This Investigation is Just Getting Started’: Sheriff’s Office Uncovers 117 Dog Carcasses, 21 Skulls and ‘Hundreds of Bones’ at Miranda’s Rescue » A crowd of 150-plus people filled the Arcata Community Center on Wednesday evening for an update on the Humboldt Bay Harbor District’s Offshore Wind Heavy Lift Marine Terminal. | Photos by Isabella Vanderheiden. ### As the Humboldt Bay Harbor District finalizes design plans for theOffshore Wind Heavy Lift Marine Terminalslated for the Samoa Peninsula, local officials are encouraging residents to weigh in on the proposed port development before environmental review kicks off later this summer. The Harbor District’s Community Advisory Committee hosted a public meeting at the Arcata Community Center on Wednesday night to give residents a chance to ask questions and share their concerns about the project. The central theme of the evening: “This is the time to have a voice.” “Now is the time,” said Harbor District Executive Director Chris Mikkelson. “We keep saying it because we really do want to hear from each and every one of you. This is a project that will last in our community for decades to come, and wehaveto get it right.” Why is it important to get engaged now? (Stay with me here, this is going to get a little acronym-heavy.) The Harbor District is preparing to recirculate the notice of preparation (NOP) for the heavy lift marine terminal project before the draft environmental impact report (DEIR) is released for public review next spring. Comments submitted through the NOP, which is the first step in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review process, will help district staff better understand the community’s top concerns about the project, and those concerns will be addressed in the DEIR. When the DEIR is released for a 45-day comment period next year, community members will have yet another opportunity to provide feedback, and the Harbor District will be required to respond to each comment. Once it’s fully built out, the heavy lift marine terminal would have the potential to produce and ship the gigantic components needed for floating offshore wind turbines — everything from the blades and nacelles (the protective housing that encases the generating components) to the towers, transmission cables and mooring lines. In fact, the Port of Humboldt Bay is the only port on the West Coast that has the capacity to host all three primary port needs of the offshore wind industry — staging/integration, onsite manufacturing/fabrication and operations/maintenance — though much of that work will also take place at the Port of Long Beach. The Harbor District’s latest rendering of the heavy lift marine terminal project. This is not a final design. (Click to enlarge.) At the outset of Wednesday’s meeting, Tom Wheeler, executive director of the Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC), urged meeting attendees to “take the potential for offshore wind seriously.” Tom Wheeler “As a community, we have the opportunity to shape this project,” he said. “The Humboldt Bay Heavy Lift Marine Terminal will be the most apparent and impactful to our local community, and will require a substantial redevelopment of Redwood Marine Terminal 1. This redevelopment will be impactful, no doubt. … I’m not here to pretend that there are not substantial concerns. These are daunting, and yet I am also hopeful that through active engagement with the community, we can develop a proposal that works for the oystermen and fishermen of the bay, the residents — both human and non-human — of Humboldt Bay, and the First Peoples of this area.” Shane Phillips, a coastal engineer with Long Beach-based global infrastructure advisor Moffatt & Nichol, said his firm is one of 20-plus consultants working on the preliminary designs for the port development project, which will set the groundwork needed for the CEQA process and regulatory permitting. “For a project of this scale, you can imagine there’s a lot of different aspects, details, analysis that needs to be done, and so we’ve developed a pretty robust team here,” he said, noting that “at least seven” of the consultant firms have locally based staff. “That was very intentional. It helps bring together that good local knowledge and understanding of conditions here, but also leveraging in with such a specialized project that experience and knowledge from other locations around the country.” Following the project overview, meeting attendees were encouraged to check out several displays around the room where Community Advisory Committee members and local experts were on hand to answer questions about the CEQA process, community benefits, design elements and environmental impacts. One meeting attendee eyes the proposed order of operations for the port development project. Fourth District Supervisor Natalie Arroyo, one of 40-plus people on the Harbor District’s Community Advisory Committee, was stationed at the “community concerns” station, where she fielded a wide range of questions, including concerns about the port project’s potential to exacerbate the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) crisis and environmental impacts. “The concerns are running the gamut,” Arroyo told theOutpost. “There are concerns that the project won’t happen or that we’ll stymie it somehow, as well as concerns about specific aspects of the project and what kind of impacts that could have on Humboldt.” “I’m just thrilled to see this much turnout,” she added. “It’s great that so many folks came out. I’ve heard a lot of speculation that this project isn’t moving forward, and I think one of the big points was to stay engaged. … I think it makes sense as a community to treat this as though it’s a real thing that requires people’s input.” District staff and local experts were on hand to answer the community’s questions. There were big sheets of paper set up on easels where attendees could write down questions and comments, which will eventually be transcribed and added to the Harbor District’s list of considerations for the NOP and DEIR. Attendees share their concerns about the project. Attendees were also given stickers to rank their level of excitement and concern with certain aspects of the project, which, as seen below, tended to skew toward “extremely concerned.” “How excited are you about each of the following factors?” After about 45 minutes of wandering around the room, a seven-person panel assembled on stage to answer some of the community’s questions. In response to a question about potential impacts to birds and marine animals, Adam Wagschal, a senior planner with local engineering firm GHD, said the DEIR will address mitigation strategies. “First, every attempt possible is made to avoid impacts,” he said. “If they can’t be avoided, then measures are identified to minimize impacts as much as possible. And when it can’t be minimized and there’s going to be a real impact, then there’s efforts to mitigate. … Biologicalcompensatory mitigationis something that will be required by this project, and … to offset or mitigate those impacts, there will be habitat restoration [and] restoration of eel grass habitat in other parts of the bay. We’re working with landowners around the bay right now to develop projects that will restore salt marshes and other habitats to provide compensatory mitigation for this impact.” Osprey are among the species that will be impacted by port development. “There are nests that will be displaced by the project,” Wagschal said. “Those nests will be replaced, I believe, at least with a one-to-one ratio right nearby, so they still have the same number of nests in the same general area again.” From left to right: Chris Mikkelson, Shane Phillips and Shelly Anghera. Shelly Anghera, a principal scientist with Moffatt & Nichol, said the project will also be subject to permitting requirements from numerous regulatory agencies on top of what is required by CEQA. “As an example, I know that there’s been concern about turbidity generated during dredging,” she said. “Part of the [EIR] analysis would be looking at, like, what is the potential for turbidity, how much, for how long and what are the impacts that that might have. … There’s also the permit that’s required from the Regional Water Quality Control Board that just says here’s the state requirement for total suspended solids, and during your construction operations, this is how you will monitor. If you are in exceedance of these specific criteria, then you need to stop your actions [and] implement a corrective measure to get it back into compliance.” The panel also addressed questions about workforce development and job creation. Mikkelson said the Harbor District Board of Commissioners approved a project labor agreement in 2023 with the Humboldt-Del Norte County Building and Construction Trades Council that prioritizes local workers. “It gives preference to enrolled tribal members, it gives preference to high school graduates in this community [and] it gives preference to people who live on the Samoa Peninsula,” he said. “Those are key unique benefits to make sure we keep it here in our community, and we don’t just hire people from the outside.” One of the last questions of the night asked who has the final say in whether the port development project — or any offshore wind-related projects — move forward. Mikkselson took the question, noting that the district’s board of commissioners will have the final say. Still, he encouraged people to speak out. “If I haven’t said it enough, you have that say,” he said. “You just gotta get loud, you just gotta get rowdy, and you’ve gotta make your thoughts heard.” Right on cue, someone in the audience got up to make her thoughts known. She identified herself as Melissa Star Meyers, a member of the Yurok Tribe and fervent opponent of offshore wind. Melissa Star Meyers gestures to the panel. “It hurts my heart that we’re talking about our ocean like it’s a thing, like it’s an object or something,” Meyers said. “For my people who are from here … how I became a human was part of the ocean, part of the wind, and part of the land — that’s how I became a human. … I’m here right now to stick up for peeshkaahl, the ocean. … I do not give them permission to put these hideous — and I’m not sorry about it — hideous objects in my land and my water.” Meyers sharply criticized the panel for downplaying environmental impacts to Humboldt Bay and the surrounding land. She also expressed concern about the MMIP crisis, as many other tribal members have, and asserted that the port development project would draw in violent out-of-towners. “All those guys … they’re going to come to your bars, they’re going to take it over, they’re going to take your women [and] they’re going to rape us, pillage us and kill us like always when these industries come to town,” she said. Arroyo, who was leading the panel discussion, asked if she could put some of Meyers’ concerns to the panelists. Meyers agreed, but continued to criticize the panel for failing to acknowledge that they were on native land. Lonyx Landry One of the panelists, Lonyx Landry, a STEM advisor at Cal Poly Humboldt and citizen of the Nor Rel Muk Wintu Nation, asked Meyers how she wanted to deal with the threat of climate change. “What is happening now is killing that beautiful thing you’re talking about,” he said. “What are you gonna do?” “Lonyx, turn off your lights and ride a bike,” she said as she retreated back to the audience. After the exchange, Mikkelson thanked attendees for their “words of passion” and “personal testimony,” reiterating the importance of continued engagement. “There is an incredible amount [of effort] that goes to this project and the commitment … to engage with each and every person,” he said. “Some of it we do in very public settings like this, and others we don’t do it in such a public setting. … There’s a large commitment to be all-inclusive, and we understand capacity in this community is limited. If your ability to engage is limited by capacity, reach out to me personally, reach out to our staff.” “I’ll say it again, we’ve got to get this right,” he continued. “We can’t make the mistakes that we’ve made in the past, and I think we heard a little bit of those mistakes this evening.” The rest of the panel shared closing remarks and, again, encouraged the community to stay engaged as environmental review moves forward. The NOP will be recirculated for a 30-day public review period in August. If everything stays on track, the DEIR will be published next spring. Permit applications are scheduled to be submitted at that time as well. Those interested in following the heavy lift marine terminal project a little more closely can tune into the Harbor District Board of Commissioners’ monthly meeting on the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. District staff present an update on the project at each meeting. ### PREVIOUSLY: « Our Water and Sewer Bills Need to Increase Regularly If We Want Safe and Reliable Service, Grand Jury Report Concludes ‘This Investigation is Just Getting Started’: Sheriff’s Office Uncovers 117 Dog Carcasses, 21 Skulls and ‘Hundreds of Bones’ at Miranda’s Rescue » Advertising supports our journalism. If you would prefer not to see ads, we have another option. MORE → © 2026Lost Coast CommunicationsContact: news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

La tua privacy è importante per noi SuLe tue scelte relative alla privacy si applicano a tutti i siti e le app forniti dal gruppo di società Yahoo.Yahooutilizziamo iCookieI cookie (comprese tecnologie simili come il web storage) consentono agli operatori di siti web e app di memorizzare e leggere informazioni dal tuo dispositivo. Per saperne di più, consulta la nostraInformativa sui cookie.cookieper: Se non vuoi che noi e i nostri partner utilizziamo i cookie e i dati personali per questi scopi aggiuntivi, clicca su "Rifiuta tutto". Se vuoi personalizzare le tue scelte, clicca su "Gestisci le impostazioni per la privacy". Puoi revocare il consenso o modificare le tue preferenze in qualsiasi momento cliccando sui link "Impostazioni privacy e cookie" o "Dashboard privacy" disponibili sui nostri siti e app. Per maggiori informazioni sulle modalità di utilizzo dei tuoi dati personali, consulta la nostraInformativa privacye la nostraInformativa cookie.

The Port of Long Beach has approved $58.2 million to deploy six zero-emission and five cleaner harbour craft to replace older diesel engines. IMAGE: Aerial view of cargo containers in Long Beach port California. Getty Images. The funding will also support the acquisition of 61 units of zero-emission, human-operated cargo-handling equipment and 21 chargers to power them. It will also advance one zero-emission locomotive. The latest round of funding builds on the port's System-Wide Investment in Freight Transport (SWIFT) programme, the port authority said. The SWIFT programme is aimed at accelerating the transition to zero-emission operations while improving the reliability and efficiency of cargo movement. Earlier in May, the Port of Long Beachlauncheda $1 million incentive for the first commercial-scale methanol bunkering operation at the port By Gautamee Hazarika Please get in touch with comments or additional info to news@engine.online

The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) recommends regulating the greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity of fuels used on voyages to and from California ports, by expanding regulated areas. IMAGE: Aerial shot of a container ship arriving in the Port of Long Beach in California. Getty Images. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) currently regulates emissions from ships operating within state waters but does not cover emissions from voyages to and from California ports that occur outside of regulated areas. Ships operating within California's regulated waters emitted 2.4 million mt of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) in 2022, compared with 13.3 million mt CO2e from voyages to and from the state's ports, the ICCT found. Most of the 13.3 million mt of CO2e emissions occurred outside the current regulatory scope, the think tank noted. The study also found that 75% of ships calling at California ports could have completed all of their 2022 voyages using either methanol or ammonia without affecting service levels. However, ICCT warned that these fuels deliver meaningful emissions reductions only when produced using renewable electricity. Policies should therefore prioritise low-carbon production pathways while improving the availability and affordability of renewable e-fuels, ICCT added. By Gautamee Hazarika Please get in touch with comments or additional info to news@engine.online

U.S. ports and terminal operators are investing in equipment and technologies that modernize operations and slash emissions. U.S. ports and terminal operators are investing in equipment and technologies that modernize operations and slash emissions. The projects come as U.S. ports face a broader equipment investment need. A May survey from the National Association of Waterfront Employers (NAWE), a trade association, found that 25 senior port and terminal executives estimate U.S. ports will need $6.7 billion in cargo-handling equipment investment over the next five years. The total includes $2.74 billion for new ship-to-shore crane purchases, $2.4 billion for large yard cargo-handling equipment and additional ship-to-shore cranes, $917 million for rail-mounted large yard cargo-handling equipment, and $790 million for repairs to existing cranes and cargo-handling equipment. “These findings underscore the scale and urgency of the investment challenge facing U.S. ports,” NAWE President Carl Bentzel said in the survey announcement. “Modern cargo handling equipment is essential to ensuring terminal productivity, supply chain resilience, and the ability of U.S. ports to compete with international gateways.” The investment push is also being shaped by federal infrastructure programs and changing power needs across port operations. Another trade group, the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), which represents public port authorities across the U.S., said those programs remain part of the port modernization picture. “America’s ports are modernizing in innovative ways to improve the efficient flow of cargo as volumes continue to grow,” said Sang Yi, AAPA president and CEO. “The federal government recognizes the importance of investing in our ports through key infrastructure grant programs like the Port Infrastructure Development Program, and AAPA continues to support its members’ use of various forms of energy to properly power port operations that serve the global community.” Associated Terminals, Convent, La., has added two CBG 500 E cranes manufactured byLiebherr Maritime Cranesand mounted on 250'x72' crane barges built byLAD Services,Morgan City, La. The cranes are the first of their kind operating in the region, according to Associated Terminals. “The Lower Mississippi River is one of the most important trade corridors in North America, and our customers continue to demand greater efficiency, flexibility, and reliability,” said Zeljko Franks, COO at Associated Terminals. “The decision to invest in [these] cranes was driven by our commitment to improving cargo-handling performance while positioning our operations for the future.” Associated Terminals said the crane-barge platform will support mobile handling of bulk and breakbulk commodities, including grain, fertilizer, aggregates, steel products, and project cargo across the Lower Mississippi and Gulf Coast region. The company worked with Liebherr and other project partners throughout the design process, Franks said. “Rather than purchasing an off-the-shelf solution, we helped develop a system specifically designed for the demands of Mississippi River cargo operations,” he said. “From cargo-handling requirements and power management to maintenance access and long-term reliability, our team played an active role in ensuring the equipment would meet the needs of our customers and workforce for decades to come.” The crane-barge configuration allows Associated Terminals to bring high-capacity cargo-handling equipment to customer locations while maintaining throughput and reliability, Franks said. The cranes’ controls, lifting capacity, and reach support faster loading and unloading while helping the company maintain safety standards. For customers, Franks said, the investment is aimed at improving productivity, increasing operational flexibility, and reducing vessel turnaround times. Curtis Blank, director of maintenance and engineering at Associated Terminals, said, “We expect the biggest gains in cargo throughput, vessel turnaround, energy efficiency, and equipment reliability. The cranes are capable of very high handling rates, allowing us to move more cargo in less time and improve overall vessel productivity.” The cranes incorporate Liebherr’s LiCaTronic energy recovery system and battery-supported power management. The systems help reduce fuel consumption and optimize power usage while also enhancing diagnostics and monitoring capabilities that can help the company manage equipment performance and reduce downtime, Blank said. Some companies are focusing on emissions from vessels already in service.STAX Engineering, Long Beach, Calif., uses barge-based, emissions-capture systems that pull alongside ships at berth and connect to their exhaust pipes. The company says the system captures exhaust directly from the ship’s stack, funnels it into the barge, and filters out 99% of particulate matter and 95% of nitrogen oxides before releasing treated gas. According to STAX, cargo and crew operations can continue while the vessel remains in its assigned berth. “STAX Engineering is an emissions capture and control company that gives ports and vessel operators a way to cut harmful at-berth pollutants from today’s fleet without waiting on costly ship retrofits, full electrification, or major grid upgrades,” said Mike Walker, CEO of STAX Engineering. “As air-quality rules tighten, we’re addressing the hardest part of the problem: how to clean up vessels that are already in service and still have decades of life left.” Walker said the technology helps where shore power is not available or practical. He also pointed to tankers and other vessels that often cannot plug in safely. “Ports need a mix of solutions — shore power, cleaner fuels, and emissions capture — to decarbonize in a realistic way,” Walker said. “Electrification is critical, but it’s expensive, grid-dependent, and not feasible for every vessel type or berth configuration. Emissions capture fills those gaps by reducing pollution from existing fleets at the source, delivering immediate air quality benefits while longer-term infrastructure scales.” STAX barges can serve containerships, auto carriers, and tankers from nearly any angle and do not require ship modifications or changes to port infrastructure. The company operates eight barges, has treated more than 2,400 vessels over more than 42,000 service hours, and has captured more than 330 tons of pollutants. STAX is operating across California, including the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and is in discussions with shippers and ports in other U.S. regions and abroad, Walker said. “Over the next decade, we see emissions capture becoming a standard part of how ports bring existing vessels into compliance quickly, while shore power and new fuels scale up,” he said. “It’s the lever that can deliver measurable health benefits for neighboring communities now, instead of asking them to wait years for major infrastructure projects to be finished.” Federal funding is supporting port equipment projects. In October 2024, the Port of Cleveland in Ohio was awarded $94.26 million through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Ports Program for its Cleveland Harbor Electrification Initiative. The funding is expected to replace 13 pieces of cargo-handling equipment, replace two older-generation diesel tugboats, add electric vehicle charging equipment, and install a battery energy storage system with solar and shore power. The port is working withLogistec USAInc., Houston,The Great Lakes TowingCo., Cleveland, and Cleveland Public Power on the project. The multiphase initiative is expected to reduce port-related carbon emissions by 40% and improve efficiency by 2028. The project also includes community outreach and workforce development. The port said it plans to work with Davis Aerospace and Maritime High School in Cleveland on internships and workforce training programs involving Clean Ports-installed equipment, including zero-emission mobile equipment and renewable energy systems. Steve Mosco is a New York–based journalist and editor covering the commercial maritime, marine propulsion, and industrial technology sectors.

Congress is currently considering a five-year surface transportation reauthorization bill that sets federal policies and funding levels for our nation’s transportation infrastructure, including highways, rail, and public transit. With high gas prices squeezing families at the pump and pollution from cars, trucks, and trains making our air dirtier and our children sicker, this bill is an important opportunity for the United States to build a cleaner, healthier, and more affordable transportation future. Last month, the House introduced and passed out of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee its version of the surface transportation bill,H.R. 8870, the Building Unrivaled Infrastructure and Long-term Development for America’s 250th Act (BUILD America 250 Act). Unfortunately, the bill, which we are expecting to be considered on the House floor soon, falls short on investing in electric vehicles (EVs) and charging infrastructure that would reduce climate and air pollution, misses a critical opportunity to make getting around more affordable by reducing guaranteed funding for public transit, and punishes EV drivers with a new annual fee. This is not the transportation system people deserve. Transportation is responsible forapproximately one third of U.S. greenhouse gas emissionsand amajor contributor to harmful air pollution. According to the American Lung Association’s latestState of the Airreport,44% of people in this country live in areas with unhealthy levels of pollution. Additionally, communities living near major transportation corridors, ports, and rail yards often face greater exposure to air pollution resulting in health impacts like cancer, cardiovascular disease, and even early death. Recognizing the impacts of our transportation system on climate, public health, and communities, the bipartisanInfrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which was signed into law in 2021, made significant investments in zero-emission technologies and transportation options, including the firstfunding program for EV charging infrastructure deploymentand thelargest investment in public transit to date. Now Congress has the opportunity to build on that progress by supporting charging infrastructure deployment, electrifying our ports rail system, furthering the transition to electric vehicles, and expanding public transit. Heavy-duty electric trucks at a charging station at the Port of Long Beach in California. (Brittany Murray / MediaNews Group / Long Beach Press-Telegram via Getty Images) Building out charging infrastructure is essential to support people choosing to drive EVs — especially as they respond to price pressures at the pump. Drivers need reliable access to charging in their own communities and along highways for longer trips. Operators of heavy-duty electric trucks transporting the goods we rely on should also feel confident that they can recharge when needed. The IIJA provided $7.5 billion in dedicated program funding that could support charging infrastructure, including through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program and the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Grant Program. Continuing to invest in charging infrastructure is importantto meet estimated future demand. We would particularly like to see Congress include programs in a surface transportation bill that fund medium- and heavy-duty vehicle charging. The current Build America 250 Act, however, undercuts progress made in the IIJA by failing to fund NEVI and CFI. This comes on the heels of the Trump Administration unlawfully freezing funding for the NEVI Program, stalling progress until acourt decision ensured states could move forward with charging projects. Instead, the bill provides just $1 billion for alternative fueling infrastructure, which includes propane and natural gas fueling infrastructure in addition to EV charging, through the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program. Container ships are seen docked at the Port of Oakland in Oakland, California. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) Our ports and rail network are central to the transition to a cleaner transportation system.Environmental justice communities are disproportionately exposed to air pollution from freight, more often living near ports and railyards. Transitioning to a freight system powered by clean electricity could improve air quality for communities across the country. Congress previously invested in electrifying ports, including through the Reduction of Truck Emissions at Port Facilities Program in the IIJA and other programs like the Clean Ports Program. There isconsiderable demand for funding for zero-emission port technologies, and Congress must continue to make these types of investments. We must also move the country away from relying on outdated diesel locomotives to electrified rail, which is in line withmany countries around the world. TheAll Aboard Act of 2025, a bill that dedicates $200 billion over five years to build the rail system of the future, could set that transition in motion. Unfortunately, the BUILD America 250 Act takes us backward. It repeals the Reduction of Truck Emissions at Port Facilities Program and does not include programs dedicated to port electrification. And, while it reauthorizes some important rail programs, it leaves out specific programs focused on electric rail projects or that address air pollution in frontline communities where rail yards are located. Trucks drive along Interstate 80 in Berkeley, Calif. (Justin Sullivan) Cleaning up medium- and heavy-duty vehicles means electrifying trucks that carry our goods and the buses that carry people to work and children to school. TheLow or No Emission (Low-No) Grant Programhas been a cornerstone program to advance electric transit buses. It received more than $5 billion in the IIJA, helping transit agencies across the country transition their fleets to low and zero-emission technologies. The$5 billion Clean School Bus Program, which was established in the IIJA, has similarly helped school districts make meaningful strides by helpingreplace existing school buses primarily with electric models, giving kids a cleaner, healthier ride to school. Congress should continue to invest in these programs and focus on battery-electric buses. The BUILD America 250 Act ends dedicated funding for the Low-No Program. Zero-emission and low-emission buses are eligible under a broader program that provides grants for buses, bus facilities, and ferries, but nothing guarantees the money in the broader program will fund these buses. Additionally, the bill does not reauthorize or fund the Clean School Bus Program. An electric transit bus at charging station in New York City. (Marc A. Hermann / MTA) With gas prices reaching record highs, consumers have shown increasedinterest in EVs, which cansave them money on fuel. Congress should encourage the transition to EVs rather than punish drivers who choose these vehicles. However, the BUILD America 250 Act seeks to penalize those who drive EVs by imposing a new $130 annual fee (that will increase up to $150). Thispunitive fee could not come at a worse time. By investing in transportation options, such as public transit, Congress can deliver more affordable alternatives for people to get where they need to go.Tens of millions of people rely on public transiteach day to travel to work or school. Yet, instead of building on the historic investment in public transit in the IIJA, the BUILD America 250 Actreduces guaranteed funding for public transit fundingand leaves out important policies like a dedicated transit operations fund that could support frequent and reliable transit service. This is not the way to address the affordability crisis. People deserve a transportation system that helps protect public health, the air they breathe, and the planet, and that also includes transportation options that can help keep costs down. Congress cannot miss the opportunity in the surface transportation reauthorization bill to build that system. There is still time to shape a bill that can deliver the transportation future the country needs.

posted by AJOT | Jun 24 2026 at 03:12 PM |Ports & Terminals A commitment by the Port of Long Beach to become the world’s first zero-emissions port advanced Monday with the authorization of $58.2 million to purchase and deploy additional zero-emissions, human-operated cargo handling equipment, cleaner harbor craft and a zero-emission locomotive. The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners approved the expenditure, part of a larger grant from California’s State Transportation Agency for System-Wide Investment in Freight Transport (SWIFT). This initiative is designed to lead the deployment of the cleanest technologies, support goods movement efficiency and reduce environmental impacts on neighboring communities. The investment will allow tenants and operators to: “Expanding our clean technology portfolio is critical to the future of goods movement and to the health of the communities around us,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Dr. Noel Hacegaba. “We are not waiting for the future to arrive, we are shaping it and leading the way by deploying the latest zero-emission equipment to make a difference today.” “The Port of Long Beach continues to invest in zero-emission infrastructure and deploy a suite of incentives for early adopters of these technologies,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Frank Colonna. “This latest round of funding builds on the Port’s broader SWIFT program, which is accelerating the transition to zero-emission operations while improving the reliability and efficiency of cargo movement.”

Ports & Terminals byStas Margaronisabout 10 hours ago In May, the Port of Long Beach moved 842,000 TEUs, nearly 32% higher compared with last year, making it “our third busiest May on record,” according to Noel Hacegaba, CEO, Port of Long Beach. Hacegaba was speaking at the Port’s media briefing on June 23rdwhere he provided the following cargo volume breakdown: Year to date, the Port has processed 4,050,247 TEUs for an increase of 0.2% which Hacegaba said “marks our first year-over-year volume increase for 2026 and puts us on pace with our record year in 2025.” However, Hacegaba expressed concern about continued uncertainty among importers and exporters related to the disposition of Trump administration tariffs and the Iran War and particularly the uncertainty surrounding the re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz impacting global oil supplies: “Reopening the Strait of Hormuz is a critical priority to restore the stability of the U.S. economy.” The result is “uncertainty is now part of the operating environment and businesses are planning accordingly.” Inflationary Impact of Iran War Hacegaba noted that the Iran War has disrupted oil and gas supplies from the Middle East with inflationary impacts on the U.S. economy and on harbor truckers: “The global supply chain runs on fuel, whether it's ocean vessels, trucks or rail. Diesel and bunker costs have jumped 50% since the conflict in Iran began and ripples across the entire transportation ecosystem. If energy markets become more volatile, carriers or logistics providers may adjust routes, capacity or fuel surcharges to offset higher costs. Those increased transportation expenses can ultimately contribute to inflationary pressures that affect consumer demand and cargo volumes.” He pointed out that inflation has climbed to its highest level in roughly three years, driven in part by higher energy costs and ongoing instability … including tensions involving Iran. As transportation and fuel expenses rise, businesses across the supply chain face increased operating costs that can eventually be passed on to consumers.” Zero Emissions Initiatives Hacegaba announced “the world's first clean fuel bunkering challenge. We're awarding $1 million to the first ocean going vessel to refill at berth with methanol on a commercial scale. We are serious about creating a North American market for methanol bunkering and giving the industry itself incentive to invest.” The Port is also supporting zero emission trucking grants: “We also announced the creation of the Zero Emissions Truck Early Leaders Award program. By making $4.8 million available for eligible trucking companies, the Port of Long Beach is rewarding the trailblazers in our trucking community. And because of their willingness to adopt zero emissions truck technology, these truck drivers are contributing to cleaner air in our region.” High Fuel Prices Hurt Harbor Truckers Hacegaba’s guest was Robert Loya, CEO, Harbor Trucking Association (HTA) who reported that the Iran War has resulted in skyrocketing diesel prices that have been hurting harbor truckers: “It's been extremely difficult over the last … few months … Diesel is over $7 per gallon. And what's really concerning is that … many of the times I've been told by my members they are not recovering that full cost. So, what does that mean? That means … as the price of fuel goes up … diesel goes up $2 … they're only getting about a dollar back. And so, you could understand that running at this kind of level, it's unsustainable. The Department of Energy has reported that California diesel fuel is now under $7, which is great to hear. But the gap between the national average is still roughly about $1.70 something … it was up to $2 at one point, which is extremely difficult to …be sustainable.” Loya said truckers are having a particular problem getting fully compensated by ocean carriers: “So from our perspective we are trying to recover that as best as possible. Some pricing models don't allow it because … customers are refusing to take some of that cost on, including the ocean carriers. For those of my members who move the carrier haulage moves, it was tough for them to relinquish that kind of profit margin.” Tesla Battery Powered Trucks Loya said that the Tesla Semi, a new battery powered zero emission truck which has a range of 500 miles per charge, offers the opportunity of addressing volatile diesel prices but the trucks are expensive and the charging infrastructure is still not sufficiently developed:” But now we're seeing the benefits of like the Tesla trucks … the trucks that we thought we needed four years ago to convert, they're starting to show up and I think those are great tools that we have now at our disposal.” Infrastructure is the next step Loya said: “The next step is the infrastructure. They can put out 60,000 trucks according to Tesla. That's how many they can push out in that plant. But that doesn't mean anything if we don't have the infrastructure to power those units. So, we're excited about the future. We're excited that these trucks are actually lighter, the range is better, they're quicker to fuel or to charge. But we just need the infrastructure in the proper corridors, which I know you guys (Ports of LA and Long Beach) are working on. And we're extremely excited that we're actually partnering in the right corridors where the freight is headed.” English Language Proficiency Loya said the Trump administration is enforcing English language proficiency requirements on drivers, and it has had an impact on harbor truckers in California. To support its response, HTA is working with California State University at Long Beach to provide English language proficiency classes: “We've been donating every year $5,000 to an endowment there, and we're using part of that endowment to help fund an English proficiency course. So, we're working and partnering with them. We actually have a few members who are sending drivers there now.” However, Loya says the notion that language proficiency adversely impacts driving is overstated: “And I think there's a misnomer out there. There's a misunderstanding that just because you can't speak English, you're not a good driver. That's absolutely not true. There's a lot of great drivers, regardless of what language they speak. I just think they're dumping them all in because you're not able to speak English. Now, is it a requirement? It's always been a requirement. It's been in federal law for a long, long time.” Port Security Grants Hacegaba said that as part of the nation's busiest trade gateway, “the Port of Long Beach understands that security is not optional. It is a foundation that keeps cargo moving, protects millions of American jobs and strengthens our economy. That's why we're encouraging Congress to increase the funding for the Port Security Grant Program for the next fiscal year to its fully authorized level of $400 million under the Maritime Transport Security Act. America's ports are facing an increasingly complex threat environment that requires continued investment to ensure we remain secure, operational and resilient. Despite these threats, funding for the Port Security Grant Program has remained well below its authorized level for years, hovering between $90 million and $100 million since 2021. This falls short of the resources needed to address today's security realities.” He emphasized that the Port of Long Beach has benefited from the Port Security Grant Program since its creation in 2002, “allowing us to leverage the funding for vital projects including cybersecurity enhancements, cutting edge drone detection systems, and video analytics for camera systems to increase safety on the Long Beach International Gateway Bridge.” Hacegaba added: “This has been an ongoing request from the port community for years and is not and should not be a partisan issue.” Port of Oakland Volume Up 1.9% The Port of Oakland handled 190,958 TEUs (twenty-foot containers) in May 2026, a 1.9% increase over May 2025. This was the Port's highest monthly cargo volume since January 2026. Growth was driven by increases in both import and export cargo. Full imports reached 83,809 TEUs, up 5.7% from the same month last year, while full exports totaled 69,284 TEUs, a 2.9% increase. Total loaded volume climbed 4.4% year-over-year to 153,093 TEUs, showing continued growth. "May marked the second consecutive month of year-over-year growth in total volume, with gains in both full imports and full exports contributing to the month's performance," said Bryan Brandes, Port of Oakland Maritime Director. "The start of a new transpacific vessel service during the month added capacity and strengthened connectivity for cargo moving through Oakland." The Port's import growth reflects continued consumer demand and inventory replenishment activity, while export gains underscore ongoing demand for Northern California agricultural products and other U.S. exports moving through Oakland. Ports & Maritime Editor Contact Author Stas Margaronis is a maritime journalist, publisher, and trade industry expert with more than 40 years of experience covering global transportation, ports, logistics, and infrastructure. He serves as California Ports Reporter for the American Journal of Transportation (AJOT), reporting on maritime trade, tariffs, and port developments across California’s major seaports. Margaronis is also President of the Propeller Club of Northern California and publisher of Rebuild the United States (RBTUS), covering infrastructure, shipbuilding, cybersecurity, AI, and national security. His background includes international trade, logistics management, and publishing, with experience spanning the United States and Asia. © Copyright 1999–2026 American Journal of Transportation. All Rights Reserved

Search across reports, market insights, and blog stories. A memorandum of understanding has been signed by thePort of Long Beach, the Wonderful Co., and Lincoln Transportation Services to create a port-poweredGreen Truck Corridor, as announced in a May 12 press release. This pact sets up a structure for coordinating cargo movement, connecting port activities, inland supply chains, and zero-emission truck projects. The collaborators seek to boost supply chain effectiveness while cutting air pollution and greenhouse gas output. The planned corridor would cover roughly 150 miles linkingCalifornia's Long Beachwith the Central Valley, a freight pathway moving over 300,000 import and export shipping containers annually. Already involved as partners are shippers likeAmazon,Walmart,Target, andRoss Stores, according to an email from Port of Long Beach CEO Noel Hacegaba. This initiative extends current work to reduce carbon emissions in California's freight sector while improving links between the state's harbors and interior distribution centers. The Wonderful Co., which owns brands such as Wonderful Pistachios and POM Wonderful, ranks among California's biggest agricultural landowners, per its website. This $6 billion private firm is building a 2,000-acre master-planned logistics hub in Shafter, California, about 150 miles from the Port of Long Beach. That hub already houses 24 tenants, including Fortune 500 companies like Amazon,FedEx, and Walmart. Before this announcement with the Port of Long Beach and Lincoln Transportation Services, the Wonderful Co. had already suggested the Central Valley Green Pass, a truck detour around Shafter. The firm stated that project would lower pollution in neighborhoods and reduce traffic on California State Route 99, a key north-south freight corridor. The new deal broadens that concept by integrating port operations with inland freight systems and emerging zero-emission transport networks. Joe Vargas, president of Wonderful Real Estate Development, remarked in the release that this corridor shows how strategic master planning can produce tangible, lasting effects and illustrates how that system is being built gradually through coordination, collaboration, and long-range planning that enhances current efficiency while aiding the shift to cleaner freight. As the corridor's first lead truck ambassador, Lincoln Transportation Services has placed orders for 300TeslaSemi electric trucks, each with an estimated 500-mile range. The initial batch of 50 to 70 trucks is slated for arrival in June. Furthermore, Voltz, an electric truck maker linked to Lincoln, intends to manufacture 100 units, with deliveries starting in Q3 2027. Sepehr Matinifar, president of Lincoln Transportation Services, stated in the release that by setting a strong example, they aim to encourage industry partners to join in building a more sustainable future. Infrastructure support is also growing at the Port of Long Beach. The port currently operates 102 charging stations, with an additional 92 expected to come online later this year, helping to support the increasing use of zero-emission trucks. Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business A Quick Overview of Market Performance Understanding the Current State of The Market and its Prospects Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Export The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry The Largest Import Supplying Countries The Largest Destinations for Exports The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles The Largest Markets And Their Profiles Instant access. No credit card needed. Online access to 2M+ reports, dashboards, and tables. Trusted by Fortune 500 teams.