Port of San Diego begins marine terminal modernization project

The California port has commenced a $24 million project to modernize its Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal, allowing the terminal to handle up to 4.6 million metric tons of cargo annually.    The Port of San Diego has started a $24 million project to modernize its Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal.
   On Tuesday, port and elected officials, as well as union labor and other invited guests, participated in a ceremony that included tearing down a wall of a warehouse that’s slated to be demolished.
   The project involves the removal of two obsolete warehouses to help create a laydown area for larger project cargo. Also included are improvements to utilities, new lighting and pavement. New modular office space, utility enclosures and restrooms will also be added, as well as on-dock rail improvements.
   “The timing is right for this project as the Port of San Diego is poised for additional growth,” Board of Port Commissioners Chairman Rafael Castellanos explained. “This project will allow the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal to handle up to 4.6 million metric tons of cargo annually.”
   The terminal modernization is the first phase of a larger project that provides laydown space and flexibility for cargo. The port said it’s long-term redevelopment plan envisions three distinct cargo nodes within the existing footprint of the terminal: project and break-bulk cargo; refrigerated containers; and dry bulk cargo.
   “We worked to secure $10 million from the TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Grant program for these planned upgrades,” said Rep. Scott Peters, a former Chair of San Diego’s port commission. “This project is a great example of how the federal government is investing in ports and San Diego’s maritime industry to increase our global competitiveness.”
   The port is matching the U.S. Department of Transportation’s $10 million federal TIGER Grant with a $14 million contribution to fund the first phase of the modernization.
   Phase I of the modernization project is anticipated to take about 13 months to complete. Northern San Diego County construction company Dick Miller, Inc. was awarded the contract for the phase. Future phases, according to the port, will be dependent on funding, market trends and customer needs.
   San Diego’s long-term redevelopment plan includes technologies to help safeguard the environment around the terminal, with zero and near-zero emission freight equipment expected to be implemented at the terminal over the next 20 years, and an emission-capturing bonnet system planned to capture harmful pollutants for vessels that are unable to use shore power while at berth.