40 Years of Progress in the Urban Ocean

Continuity and Innovation

After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the U.S., seaports around the world were concerned with the disruption of their services.The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are vital to the whole country; thus, “business continuity” became a major focus of shippers, port managers, carriers, and cargo owners. Working with FuturePorts, a non-profit organization representing many users of the two ports, USC Sea Grant sponsored an important symposium on maintaining the flow of cargo after any kind of interruption, whether anthropogenic or natural. Port Continuity Planning: Maintaining the Region’s Economic Lifeblood, the proceedings of the symposium, was widely distributed to the industry and provided best practices for the region.

USC Sea Grant co-hosted and co-sponsored the 2014 Symposium on Evolution of Maritime Fuels, Ship Speed and Operational Efficiency.This meeting brought together an international cadre of experts in engineering, financial, and policy expertise to exchange research ideas and recent findings about liquefied natural gas (LNG) and methane fuels. Beginning in 2015, the North American Emission Control Area (ECA) requires that all shipping within 200 miles of the Canadian and American coasts use ultra-clean burning fuel. The conference specifically examined the potential of both LNG and methanol to meet the challenges of the new ECA. Participants discussed issues of operational efficiency and environmental advancement as modern engine design and fuel chemistry intersect with the economics of the maritime transportation industry.

    Close to 45% of all marine freight enters the United States through the twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Credit: James Fawcett

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