PEOPLE, PLANET AND PERFORMANCE TOP PRIORITIES IN 2025
Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka Outlines Successes, Priorities at ‘State of Port Event’
2024 Cargo Volume Lands at 10.3 Million Container Units, Up Nearly 20%, While Air Emissions Continue to Improve
L.A. Marks 25th Year as Western Hemisphere’s Busiest Port
Jan. 23, 2025 – With a focus on people, planet and performance, Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka outlined the Port’s agenda for the coming year to a record 640 attendees at the 10th annual State of the Port event.
After acknowledging ongoing wildfire recovery and relief efforts currently underway across Los Angeles, Seroka pointed out an array of environmental, community and business successes, including finishing 2024 by processing more than 10.3 million container units. That reflects nearly 20% increase over 2023, and the second-best year in the 117-year history of the Port. View latest cargo data here.
“Today we celebrate a remarkable milestone: 25 years – a quarter century – as the busiest container port in the Western Hemisphere,” Seroka told the crowd of community and business leaders. “This achievement is a testament to our shared dedication and hard work.”
After acknowledging ongoing wildfire recovery and relief efforts currently underway across Los Angeles, Seroka pointed out an array of environmental, community and business successes, including finishing 2024 by processing more than 10.3 million container units. That reflects nearly 20% increase over 2023, and the second-best year in the 117-year history of the Port. View latest cargo data here.
“Today we celebrate a remarkable milestone: 25 years – a quarter century – as the busiest container port in the Western Hemisphere,” Seroka told the crowd of community and business leaders. “This achievement is a testament to our shared dedication and hard work.”
“The City is moving forward on a massive recovery effort to rebuild homes, businesses and communities, and we must also ensure the Port of Los Angeles remains well positioned to move essential goods for this effort,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement. “I am confident this will be the case – the busiest port in America is a leader that continues to break cargo records while simultaneously driving air emissions down to 20-year lows. My appreciation to all who made these accomplishments possible and who contributed to the Port’s success. I especially want to thank the members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union for getting the job done every day.”
Hosted by the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association, all proceeds from the event support two local non-profit organizations: EXP, which focuses on next-generation maritime workforce development, and the International Seafarers Center, which provides and maintains facilities and services for merchant seamen calling at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Additionally, guests were encouraged to those affected by the Los Angeles area wildfires by offering support at lacity.gov/lastrong.
Hosted by the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association, all proceeds from the event support two local non-profit organizations: EXP, which focuses on next-generation maritime workforce development, and the International Seafarers Center, which provides and maintains facilities and services for merchant seamen calling at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Additionally, guests were encouraged to those affected by the Los Angeles area wildfires by offering support at lacity.gov/lastrong.
Now in his 11th year at the Port’s helm, Seroka praised the many stakeholders in attendance – from terminal operators to shipping lines, to longshore labor and community organizations, among others – for the Port’s achievements in 2024.
Seroka then outlined the Port’s strategic priorities for the year ahead in three key areas: people, planet and performance.
People
Emphasizing the need to prioritize people and workforce development, Seroka highlighted the Port’s newly opened $16 million ILWU-PMA Maintenance and Repair Training Center on Terminal Island, and the ongoing development of a new Goods Movement Training Facility. Both focus on the reskilling and up-skilling of workers serving the Port.
Recognizing the importance of bringing future talent to the industry, Seroka announced two educational initiatives. One with UCLA that focuses on advancing clean technology, and another with the California Community College system that seeks to prepare students for future maritime industry jobs, particularly careers focused on decarbonization and environmental stewardship.
Seroka then outlined the Port’s strategic priorities for the year ahead in three key areas: people, planet and performance.
People
Emphasizing the need to prioritize people and workforce development, Seroka highlighted the Port’s newly opened $16 million ILWU-PMA Maintenance and Repair Training Center on Terminal Island, and the ongoing development of a new Goods Movement Training Facility. Both focus on the reskilling and up-skilling of workers serving the Port.
Recognizing the importance of bringing future talent to the industry, Seroka announced two educational initiatives. One with UCLA that focuses on advancing clean technology, and another with the California Community College system that seeks to prepare students for future maritime industry jobs, particularly careers focused on decarbonization and environmental stewardship.
Seroka also discussed the importance of investing in communities, noting the Port’s half-billion-dollar investment in the LA Waterfront made over the past decade, including the San Pedro Promenade project and the Wilmington Waterfront Promenade. The long-awaited West Harbor development is slated to open in 2025, he said, announcing that the San Pedro Fish Market has signed a 49-year lease to be an anchor tenant.
These investments have also led to a boom in cruise travel, said Seroka, with the Port’s cruise business doubling over the last decade. The Port expects 2025 to be another record cruise year with more than 1.5 million passengers.
“Our history at the Port of Los Angeles and the surrounding communities is more than just ships, containers and the old fishing industry,” said Seroka. “Our history is people.”
Planet
The Port has long been a leader in cleaning up ports and reducing pollution, Seroka told attendees. Its many environmental initiatives over more than two decades have reduced emissions of all kinds, with diesel particulate matter down 91% and sulfur oxides reduced by 98% since 2005, even with simultaneous cargo growth of 15% over that same period. The most recent Air Emissions Inventory indicates the lowest level of overall emissions since 2005.
Seroka said the Port is now set on a more aggressive path of a truly zero-emission (ZE) future.
“Our goal isn’t fewer emissions, it’s zero emissions,” he said. “It's about setting a new standard for ports worldwide, proving that economic growth and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand.”
Seroka outlined some of the major initiatives underway to achieve the Port’s ZE goals, including ramping up the number of ZE trucks in service at the Port; investing $640 million in new ZE cargo handling equipment, trucks and charging stations; moving ahead with the Port’s Hydrogen Hub project, focused on producing ZE terminal cargo handling equipment; and creating Green Shipping Corridors with ports around the world to decarbonize the vessel-side of the maritime industry.
He also noted that work has started on a major $500 million enhancement project with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power that will allow the Port to handle more electric equipment and clean shore power operations in the future.
Performance
In addition to announcing 2024 cargo volume, Seroka discussed initiatives contributing to improved performance and efficiencies at the Port. These include the recently completed $73 million Pier 400 On-Dock Rail Expansion project, and another similar rail expansion currently underway at Fenix Marine Pier 300.
Seroka reiterated the importance of using data to improve performance. He discussed how the Port has been able to build on its Port Optimizer™, a digital platform first introduced in 2017 providing Port stakeholders real-time data and predictable cargo planning capabilities. Seroka shared that the platform’s latest feature, a Universal Trucking Appointment System, now allows nearly 20,000 truckers serving the Port to digitally manage terminal appointments. Just introduced to improve workflow, the system is already showing promising results.
“Everything we do to speed containers through the Port pays off, because for every four containers we move, it equals one job.” said Seroka. “At the Port of Los Angeles, performance is a point of pride for everyone who works here.”
Seroka closed the event with a recognition of the challenges ahead for the industry, and with a call for continued collaboration and cooperation.
“It’s up to all of us to create a Port that is better for people, better for the planet, and better for performance,” he said.
These investments have also led to a boom in cruise travel, said Seroka, with the Port’s cruise business doubling over the last decade. The Port expects 2025 to be another record cruise year with more than 1.5 million passengers.
“Our history at the Port of Los Angeles and the surrounding communities is more than just ships, containers and the old fishing industry,” said Seroka. “Our history is people.”
Planet
The Port has long been a leader in cleaning up ports and reducing pollution, Seroka told attendees. Its many environmental initiatives over more than two decades have reduced emissions of all kinds, with diesel particulate matter down 91% and sulfur oxides reduced by 98% since 2005, even with simultaneous cargo growth of 15% over that same period. The most recent Air Emissions Inventory indicates the lowest level of overall emissions since 2005.
Seroka said the Port is now set on a more aggressive path of a truly zero-emission (ZE) future.
“Our goal isn’t fewer emissions, it’s zero emissions,” he said. “It's about setting a new standard for ports worldwide, proving that economic growth and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand.”
Seroka outlined some of the major initiatives underway to achieve the Port’s ZE goals, including ramping up the number of ZE trucks in service at the Port; investing $640 million in new ZE cargo handling equipment, trucks and charging stations; moving ahead with the Port’s Hydrogen Hub project, focused on producing ZE terminal cargo handling equipment; and creating Green Shipping Corridors with ports around the world to decarbonize the vessel-side of the maritime industry.
He also noted that work has started on a major $500 million enhancement project with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power that will allow the Port to handle more electric equipment and clean shore power operations in the future.
Performance
In addition to announcing 2024 cargo volume, Seroka discussed initiatives contributing to improved performance and efficiencies at the Port. These include the recently completed $73 million Pier 400 On-Dock Rail Expansion project, and another similar rail expansion currently underway at Fenix Marine Pier 300.
Seroka reiterated the importance of using data to improve performance. He discussed how the Port has been able to build on its Port Optimizer™, a digital platform first introduced in 2017 providing Port stakeholders real-time data and predictable cargo planning capabilities. Seroka shared that the platform’s latest feature, a Universal Trucking Appointment System, now allows nearly 20,000 truckers serving the Port to digitally manage terminal appointments. Just introduced to improve workflow, the system is already showing promising results.
“Everything we do to speed containers through the Port pays off, because for every four containers we move, it equals one job.” said Seroka. “At the Port of Los Angeles, performance is a point of pride for everyone who works here.”
Seroka closed the event with a recognition of the challenges ahead for the industry, and with a call for continued collaboration and cooperation.
“It’s up to all of us to create a Port that is better for people, better for the planet, and better for performance,” he said.