The Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners unanimously approved a 30-year lease with Yusen Terminals, securing the longtime Port of L.A. marine terminal operator through 2056 and paving the way for an additional $200 million investment in zero-emission cargo-handling equipment.
A port tenant since 1991, the terminal is north of the Vincent Thomas Bridge, along the port’s East Basin Channel and spans 232 acres at Berths 212-224, 701 New Dock St., on Terminal Island.
Numerous speakers from the community also showed up to offer support for the facility because it’s been an active participant in community life through the years.
Representatives from the San Pedro and Wilmington chambers of commerce, youth agencies, and facilities serving those in need took the microphone during public comment to offer support for the longtime port tenant and the lease extension.
“I’ve been on (San Pedro) chamber board for eight years,” said Bruce Heyman, executive director of the Los Angeles Maritime Institute, which oversees the city’s official tall ships and student programming. It has often been difficult to persuade the port “ecosystem” to participate in local community activities, Heyman said.
“They broke the logjam,” Heyman said of Yusen. “Not only did they join but they show up; they’re at the events.”
Amanda Enriquez, board chair for Toberman Neighborhood Center in San Pedro, agreed.
“The strength of the port is more than just cargo moving across the docks,” Enriquez said. “Yusen demonstrates that commitment (to the broader community).”
The terminal has also been a supporter of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor, said Sergio Carrillo, chief development and external relations officer for the organization.
Under the approved lease extension, Yusen Terminals will invest an additional $200 million in zero-emission equipment over the coming years.
The terminal, one of the most productive in terms of cargo volumes, port officials said, also boasts quick truck turn times and 14 charging stations.
“This is a very big port that lives in a very small town,” said Sal DiCostanzo, port liaison/labor relations representative for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Local 13. “It’s the third largest container terminal by volume, and it operates at efficiency levels that matter.”
Yusen, he said, also demonstrates how the transition to non-polluting technology can be achieved “simultaneous to preserving jobs.”
“They’re not just a tenant here; they’re a guest in our home and we invite guests in. That shouldn’t be lost on anybody here,” DiCostanzo added. “They’re the gold standard of terminal operations.”
Negotiations for the lease extension have been ongoing for some three years, port officials said.
“We’re proud of the operation we’ve built at the Port of Los Angeles and excited about what lies ahead,” said Yusen Terminals President and CEO Alan McCorkle. “This agreement gives us the long-term certainty to continue investing in our terminal, our people and new technology while providing the reliable service our customers expect. We look forward to building on our partnership with the Port for decades to come.”
Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka, in a written comment, praised the terminal for its work to get to zero-emissions operations.
“When we called on terminals to test and incorporate zero-emission equipment,” he said, “Yusen Terminals immediately stepped up.”
Yusen Terminals is owned by Ocean Network Express, one of the world’s largest container shipping companies. Its services at the Port of Los Angeles include stevedoring, terminal operations and specialized cargo-handling. Yusen Terminals will celebrate its 35th anniversary at the port later this year.