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Cordero Urged Port Authorities to Move Cargo While Striving for Zero Emissions

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Cordero Urged Port Authorities to Move Cargo While Striving for Zero Emissions

Mario Cordero, an international maritime industry leader, Long Beach resident and attorney, Executive Director of the Port of Long Beach, California, calls on port authorities to safeguard health of neighboring communities

Seaports have a duty to protect the communities they serve from air pollution associated with goods movement, Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero told a gathering of industry leaders recently at the American Association of Port Authorities Legislative Summit in Washington, D.C.

Speaking in his capacity as the AAPA Board of Directors chairman, Cordero urged port authorities to commit to “environmental social governance” – developing policies to decarbonize and convert cargo-handling and drayage truck fleets to zero emissions.

Cordero emphasized that protecting the health of neighboring communities from harmful emissions due to port operations is a paramount responsibility. Pointing out that as port executives you can make a difference, the only question is whether you will choose to make a difference.

Long Beach Harbor Commission President Steven Neal applauded Cordero for amplifying the Port of Long Beach’s Green Port philosophy at the international event.

Neal established the fact that it is possible to have both good jobs and a sustainable environment. Revealing that their diesel particulate emissions are down 90% since 2005, even while cargo has increased more than 20%, because of the landmark Green Port Policy and the Clean Air Action Plan.

On Friday, April 1, the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles launched the Clean Truck Fund rate. The rate – $10 per twenty-foot equivalent unit on loaded import and export cargo containers hauled by drayage trucks as they enter or leave container terminals, will be collected from beneficial cargo owners and will help fund and incentivize the changeover to cleaner trucks. Exemptions to the CTF rate will be initially provided for containers hauled by zero-emission trucks and low-nitrogen oxide-emitting trucks. It is expected to generate up to $90 million in the first year.

Learn more about the Port of Long Beach’s environmental initiatives at www.polb.com/environment and the Clean Truck Fund rate here.

The Port of Long Beach is one of the world’s premier seaports, a gateway for trans-Pacific trade and a trailblazer in goods movement and environmental stewardship. As the second-busiest container seaport in the United States, the Port handles trade valued at more than $200 billion annually and supports 2.6 million trade-related jobs across the nation, including 575,000 in Southern California.

global trade port of long beach

PORT OF LONG BEACH PLAYS THE LONG GAME

The Port of Long Beach has become a global leader in operational excellence, outstanding customer service, moving cargo with reliability, speed, and efficiency making it the premier U.S. gateway for trans-Pacific trade. 

As the second-busiest container seaport, the Port of Long Beach handles trade valued at $200 billion annually and supports 2.6 million trade-related jobs across the United States. This includes 575,000 in Southern California and one in five jobs in Long Beach, which is southwest of Los Angeles. 

Spanning across 3,200 acres with 31 miles of waterfront, 10 piers, 66 post-Panamax cranes, and amongst the deepest berths in the country, the port’s world-class facilities can accommodate the largest shipping vessels in the world. Goods moving through the port originate in or are destined for every U.S. congressional district. 

With a keen eye toward building a successful and sustainable future, the port is pursuing long-term capital improvement projects. In 2020, the port opened a new bridge built for the modern era of shipping and goods movement. This year, the port will complete the final phase of the world’s most technologically advanced container terminal, the Long Beach Container Terminal at Middle Harbor.

In the next 10 years, the port plans to invest $1.7 billion in modernization to further prepare for the demands of global trade. The strategy includes investing $1 billion in on-dock rail projects, aimed at substantially increasing reliability, adding capacity, strengthening competitiveness, improving speed-to-market, and allowing for the rapid movement of cargo throughout the harbor.

The Port of Long Beach operates Foreign Trade Zone 50 that lessens the impact of tariffs and eliminates Customs clearance delays by having shipments delivered directly to qualifying businesses within Orange County and parts of San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties.

Additionally, the port is proactively working to handle the ongoing surge in cargo shipments brought on by consumer demand for imports. Among other measures, the port has opened STOR (Short-Term Overflow Resource yard) to provide extra near-dock space to help importers and exporters cope with the cargo volume. 

The Business Recovery Task Force, which was established just over a year ago, serves as a key internal group to work with customers, industry partners, labor and government agencies to ensure terminal and supply chain operations continue without disruption.

Added investigations for locating funds to enable a 24/7 supply chain will put the port on the same footing here in the U.S. as they are in Asia and parts of Europe.

Customers choose the Port of Long Beach for the most dependable, cost-effective and fastest delivery of goods in the world, along with the strong relationships it maintains with industry, community, environmental advocates and partner agencies. In 2020, industry leaders named it “The Best West Coast Seaport in North America” for the second consecutive year. 

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SURF’S NOT UP: LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, HAS NO WAVES BUT PLENTY OF ACTION  

Moving into her university dorm room in the foothills of Los Angeles County, an incoming freshman who hailed from Southern California’s Inland Empire asked her new roommate where she was from.

“Long Beach,” the young woman answered.

“Oh, so you live by the beach?” inquired the inlander.

A puzzled look came over the young roomie before she replied, “There ain’t no beach near my house.”

Though it’s the second word in the city’s name, there is no beach in Long Beach if waves crashing into white sand ala scenes from the Baywatch television series are what come to mind. Although surfing in California is believed to have started there in 1911, a 2.2-mile-long breakwater built in 1949 to protect the U.S. Pacific Fleet has halted strong wave action along the Long Beach coast ever since. Shoreline? More like a lakefront.

However, there are large swaths of retail, dining, lodging, attraction and entertainment development facing much of the Long Beach coastline or within a couple of miles of it. This makes the city of Long Beach—a.k.a. “The LBC”—an ideal spot for business gatherings large and small hosted by companies, associations and industry groups, many of which book the Long Beach Convention Center, whose grounds include Long Beach Arena and Long Beach Performing Arts Center, both of which attract national touring acts.

Of particular interest to those booking conventions for shipping, logistics and other supply chain professionals is the nearby Port of Long Beach, which is the second busiest port in the country and, when coupled with the neighboring Port of Los Angeles, a part of the ninth busiest port complex in the world. Indeed, the port and/or its Harbor Commission routinely holds events inside the convention center—and yes, of course, tours of the port facilities make the itineraries.

If you know nothing of Long Beach, California, and perhaps more about Long Beach, New York, you may be surprised to learn that the one on the Left Coast, with its 463,218 population, is about 14 times larger than its East Coast counterpart. As you’d expect of a city that’s bigger than the likes of Minneapolis, New Orleans and St. Louis, this one has its own airport. Indeed, Long Beach Airport (LGB) is far closer and much more convenient than Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). UPS Airlines and FedEx Express serve the cargo side, and Delta, Southwest, American Eagle and Hawaiian Airlines are the passenger carriers. Alas, JetBlue’s long tenure ended in October in a dispute over expansion plans.

The convention center is encircled by the best lodging in town, including The Westin, The Hilton, Courtyard by Marriott, Renaissance Long Beach and the Hyatt Centric The Pike. But those who are tired of the usual corporate suite should look to the other side of the Los Angeles River from the convention center. There you will find the Latin-inspired, waterfront Maya Hotel, which is set within 14 acres of tropical gardens. The Hilton/Double Tree property features an open-air patio restaurant and pool deck with fire pits and cabanas that let you unwind from a day of breakout sessions. If you’re worried about being too far from the convention center action, the Maya is just a five-minute walk from water taxis bound for downtown Long Beach.

Also on that side of the river channel is perhaps the most unusual hotel around: The Queen Mary. Construction began on the former RMS Queen Mary in 1930, and after retiring as a luxury liner in 1967, the ship docked at its permanent location in Long Beach Harbor, where its staterooms now serve as hotel rooms. The cruise-ship spirit is maintained with fine dining, parties on the decks and an actual, uniformed captain. And according to legend: ghosts!

Other attractions include the Aquarium of the Pacific, the Belmont Shore district and The Pike, which opened as an amusement park in 1902 and was famous for its Cyclone Racer roller coaster that ran on tracks over pilings that were built on the water. The coaster closed in 1968, but it has since been replaced by a tamer version that looks retro but actually meets strict California safety regulations. The Pike area includes more shops, stands, restaurants, a comedy club and an outlet mall, making it a great place for long strolls and people watching.

Food choices abound in Long Beach, whether you seek the tried and true or the one-of-a-kind. Many of the latter can be found on Second Street, Retro Row (Fourth Street) or tucked away all over town. (Assignment: Get yourself to Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles.) If you have access to the company credit card or want to impress a client, here are three recommendations:

Fuego, 700 Queensway Drive, Long Beach. At Hotel Maya is this restaurant serving scrumptious Latin-style seafood. It’s better to eat outside because of the equally stunning setting and views of the downtown skyline. However, indoors is also an option that you will especially want to take up if it is a chilly night or the rare time it rains. You can’t go wrong with the Crab Cakes, Lobster Mac or Lamb Chops, but do consider a later flight if you are leaving Sunday so you can return to graze at Fuego’s five-star brunch.

Michael’s on Naples Ristorante, 5620 East Second Street, Long Beach. Given the number of awards, accolades and smash reviews the Italian restaurant has picked up since opening in 2008, you might assume it’s a button-up, fine-dining establishment. Actually, the vibe is casual and, if you desire (and you really should), al fresco. Over in the kitchen, ingredients are farm-sourced and everything is made from scratch, whether it’s the pastas and sauces or the mozzarellas and gelatos. Michael’s also has on Naples Island a pizzeria, which Zagat rated as the nation’s best in 2013, as well as Michael’s downtown that is a hybrid of the ristorante and the pizzeria. Even if you’re hotel/convention-bound downtown, you’ll want to make the trip because Naples has canals that are lined with quaint (multi-million-dollar) cottages. You can pass by them on foot, but it’s better to see them from the water on a rented kayak or paddleboard. You can even hire a gondolier.

Parkers’ Lighthouse, 435 Shoreline Village Drive, Long Beach. Years ago, my wife and I decided in the early evening of New Year’s Eve to grab a quick bite inside the steak and seafood restaurant, partly because their hot and silky New England Clam Chowder is to die for, partly because of the endless options from the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence winner’s two-story wine cellar, and mostly because of the spectacular views. We got a table for two on the top level, right up against the glass on the lighthouse side facing Rainbow Lagoon, which is cradled by another must-experience: the Shoreline Village shopping, dining and entertainment area. Little did we know we were in for a motorcyclist practicing before his nationally televised jump over the water at midnight. We got home in time to watch the successful feat. Talk about a rocking during a New Year’s Eve!

Wait . . . I forgot about dessert. Any night out should be capped with a stop at Long Beach Creamery, 4141 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach. Warning: The decision between the Whiskey Vanilla, Burnt Caramel and Midnight Oolong ice creams is impossible. And there ain’t no beach near Long Beach Creamery.

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SUPER MARIO: CORDERO HELPED SHAPE PORT OF LONG BEACH’S PIONEERING GREEN PORT POLICY YEARS BEFORE HE BECAME EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Mario Cordero was an attorney in Long Beach, defending industries and municipalities in workers’ compensation cases when he went to lunch with a local elected official. This was in the early 2000s when environmental issues were hot topics in a city that, by population, ranks second in Los Angeles County, seventh in California and 39th in the nation.

“He asked me if I’d be interested in being appointed to the harbor commission,” recalls Cordero of his lunch partner, who was referring to the City of Long Beach’s port authority. “I said of course I would. When you are talking about the port authority, that’s the pinnacle of civic involvement.”

But Cordero could not help but wonder … why him?

“At the time, port authority appointees had backgrounds either politically or as a developer or financier or someone in that circle, or as a community or environmental advocate who is a strong fundraiser,” he says. “I didn’t come under any of those classifications. So I asked, ‘Would the mayor consider me when I don’t have the history of those people who have been propelled to the port authority before?’ He said the mayor was looking for a different mindset, someone who was more sensitive to the concerns of the community and the environmental agenda.”

Cordero accepted the appointment and was sworn onto the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners in July 2003, going on to serve as vice president and president during his eight-year stint. The Los Angeles native is now beginning what will this year be his 17th year as a maritime leader, not only locally and nationally but internationally, as he resigned from the harbor commission in 2011 to join the Federal Maritime Commission, the U.S. government agency responsible for regulating the nation’s international ocean transportation for the benefit of exporters, importers and the American consumer and fostering a fair, efficient and reliable international ocean transportation system, while protecting the public from unfair and deceptive practices.

Cordero, who became executive director of the Port of Long Beach in May 2017, now leads a Harbor Department staff of more than 500 and oversees a budget that was $982 million for the 2019 fiscal year.

The crowning jewel of his career (so far) is arguably the nationally recognized, globally influential Green Port Policy, which outlines a sustainable ethic for all port operations, mandating that trade growth run parallel with environmental stewardship. Cordero began working on the initiative in late 2004, while still on the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners. “We rolled it out,” he says, “and the rest is history.”

Cordero, who was appointed vice-chairman of the Board for the American Association of Port Authorities in October 2018, outlined his port’s strong 2019—despite a dip in exports due to the U.S.-China trade war—and the progress of sustainability efforts during his Jan. 23 State of the Port address at the Long Beach Convention Center. Last year, the Port of Long Beach moved 8.1 million shipping containers or its highest total ever. An $870 million project in the pipeline to improve the port’s rail yard will have more containers hauled by trains instead of trucks, he noted. “Rail is a big part of our green future,” Cordero told the audience. “For the American exporter, my message to you is this: Our rail will move your cargo faster and more efficiently, and we are on track to make it even better for you in the years ahead.”

He also highlighted the Clean Air Action Plan that the ports of Long Beach and neighboring Los Angeles, which together form the largest port complex in the nation, implemented in 2017. The goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2030 and 80 percent by 2050. “We all know climate change is a major global effort, and a global threat,” Cordero told the crowd. “We need to transition to sustainable low-carbon, and the Port of Long Beach will do its part. Our challenge is not just to reduce carbon emissions. It’s to eliminate them altogether. … Yes, we face great challenges, but this port of the future is meeting that challenge. With our many projects, we’re planting seeds so this region continues to thrive.”

Over the phone a week after his State of the Port address, Cordero credited his time on the Harbor Commission with helping to bring about his port’s revolutionary change. “That was the game-changer with me to be part of the port authority,” he says. “I started during a time when there was a real contentious relationship with environmental groups and neighborhood groups who questioned the impacts of having such a great port. Their primary concerns were the harmful emissions that came from those operations and congestion on the highways, streets and so forth. As a result, then-mayor Beverly O’Neill appointed me to the Harbor Commission, and one of my mandates was to bring different thinking to the commission, one that is more sensitive to the concerns of the neighborhood and communities, especially when it came to the environmental issues coming before us.”

Cordero helped usher in the Green Port Policy that the port formalized in January 2005, sealing his reputation as a leader who can bring together different stakeholders or constituencies when it came to economic and environmental sustainability. “Our motto was Grow Green,” he notes. “Back then, in 2004-’05, a lot of naysayers in the industry felt that if you try to do both, it will negatively impact business operations. Looking back, that of course, as I thought then, was not to be the case.” The League of California Cities bestowed Cordero an environmental award in 2007 (the same year the Mexican-American Bar Association named him Attorney of the Year). And still, after two decades of operating under the Green Port Policy, the Port of Long Beach ranks second in the U.S. when it comes to container moves. (The Port of Los Angeles is No. 1.) “It’s not only Grow Green, but we are also a growth leader,” Cordero says. “We eventually laid out a model for ports around the world.”

Some of those ports in the U.S. would not mind cutting into Long Beach’s trade action. “We recognize that we have to have a competitive edge in terms of competing with other gateways in the U.S. lobbying for a piece of the Asian-Transpacific cargo moves,” concedes Cordero, who during his early days in the industry became “intrigued” by “the whole issue of commerce and international trade.” He plunged into examining globalization, especially as it related to economic partnerships with Asian countries. His self-education, coupled with the port’s economic and environmental successes, led to President Barack Obama appointing Cordero to the Federal Maritime Commission, which he chaired from April 2013 to January 2017.

The FMC experience “gave me context into the high levels of Washington, D.C.,” he says. “That leadership really put the Port of Long Beach on the national front. I am very proud of that history.” It was forged by Cordero’s ability to get local residents, environmentalists, union workers, terminal operators, cargo owners, international shipping companies, transportation entities and government regulators to all buy in to the port’s vision when it came to what had previously been viewed as polar opposites: trade growth and environmental sustainability. “We had to educate the community about the importance of international trade, not only as a job producer, but every household is a beneficiary of international trade,” Cordero says. “And number two, the Port of Long Beach was serious about exploring ways we can further sustainable development.”

He points with pride to “a tremendous monetary investment” the port has made to mitigate air and water pollution. “We moved forward to introduce and put in place shore power, which is also known as cold ironing,” he says. “An investment in excess of $180 million resulted in international vessels coming to port and hooking up to the electrical infrastructure as opposed to burning bunker fuel, or what they call hoteling. The way it [previously] looked at the port was that the vessels were emitting black smoke while they were here. Not much more changed dynamically until, on the international front and the state level, the implementation of standards requiring environmentally friendly fuels and the getting away from the common use of bunker fuel, which was the worst kind to use as far as the diesel infrastructure.”

Cordero is pleased with where the port is in terms of achieving the goals of the Green Port Policy. Referring to the marketing spin that makes a supposedly green entity sound more focused on sustainability than it really is, Cordero conceded, “Many thought in the environmental community, and I don’t blame them, that we were just greenwashing here. Obviously, we did more than greenwashing. … Mitigating harmful emissions—we’ve done that. In 10 years we have reduced particulate matter 88 percent, noxious emissions 57 percent, and we’ve reduced sock emissions at a level of 97 percent. Those are astounding numbers in terms of what we did.”

In the same breath, he acknowledges the port must do more as it tries to meet the bold goals of zero emissions in cargo handling by 2030 and zero emissions from trucks by 2035. “There are 18,300 trucks registered at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. There can be anywhere from 14 to 16 truck moves a day. Our goal is to not be satisfied in reducing emissions and diesel emissions until we get to zero, so by 2035 trucks will be running on electric batteries or fuel-cell technology.”

That is why Cordero is not ready to pop the cork on the bubbly just yet. “I am satisfied at this point in terms of what this port and this city have been able to do, but ultimately we must meet our current quest of going zero emissions,” he says. “That is something we will celebrate in the future.”

It’s all pretty heady stuff when you consider Cordero “was not even thinking about being on the Harbor Commission until I had that lunch. … I love to speak to students assessing what careers they are looking at. Number one, I tell them to give 110 percent at the job they are doing. Second, I say you never know what door is going to open.”