Long Beach celebrates Middle Harbor project

   Maritime industry and civic leaders attended a ceremony Monday at the Port of Long Beach to mark the official start of the $1.2 billion Middle Harbor redevelopment project.
   The event was highlighted by driving a commemorative “golden pile” into the base for a new wharf being built, according to a port news release.
   Last month, Hong Kong-based OOCL and its local terminal arm finalized a 40-year, $4.6 billion lease of the redeveloped terminal originally agreed to in January.
   The Middle Harbor project will combine two older facilities – Long Beach Container Terminal’s existing 90-acre facility and a nearby vacant property into a single 304-acre terminal with a better layout that can handle more ships and containers while incorporating on-dock rail and other features designed to maximize efficiency and reduce air pollution.
   “We’re pleased to have OOCL and LBCT committed to working with us in Long Beach to make the new, state-of-the-art Middle Harbor terminal a reality, and for staking their business future to the Port of Long Beach and the City of Long Beach,” Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster said.
   Construction on the project started last year.