PORT OF LOS ANGELES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ANTICIPATES A STRONGER APRIL; CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD
SAN PEDRO, Calif. – April 17, 2020 – In his latest video message, Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka confirms cargo operations at America’s busiest port continue to run smoothly, with no congestion or disruption whatsoever. More safety precautions are being taken at the San Pedro Bay Port Complex, and the evening labor shift is starting an hour later so cargo-handling equipment and radios can be sanitized. Terminals and gates are open daily.
“The good news is that workforce labor shift counts at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles last week were up 20% and were at their highest level in nearly two months,” said Seroka. “We also anticipate higher container volume in April as manufacturing in China normalizes and some U.S. businesses replenish their inventories. This is encouraging news in the short term, but unfortunately, overall volume in 2020 will be considerably lower than last year.”
In addition to his role as executive director, Seroka serves as the City of Los Angeles’ Chief Logistics Officer, leading the Logistics Victory Los Angeles (LoVLA) effort, which works to ensure the medical supply chain flowing into L.A.-area hospitals remains strong and fluid. As part of this effort, Apple has provided LoVLA with 160,000 face shields for frontline hospital workers and others who need them. Visit LoVLA.org for more information.
Seroka also noted that work on key Port constructions projects, such as the Badger Avenue Bridge and LA Waterfront, has not been impacted and will continue.
“The good news is that workforce labor shift counts at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles last week were up 20% and were at their highest level in nearly two months,” said Seroka. “We also anticipate higher container volume in April as manufacturing in China normalizes and some U.S. businesses replenish their inventories. This is encouraging news in the short term, but unfortunately, overall volume in 2020 will be considerably lower than last year.”
In addition to his role as executive director, Seroka serves as the City of Los Angeles’ Chief Logistics Officer, leading the Logistics Victory Los Angeles (LoVLA) effort, which works to ensure the medical supply chain flowing into L.A.-area hospitals remains strong and fluid. As part of this effort, Apple has provided LoVLA with 160,000 face shields for frontline hospital workers and others who need them. Visit LoVLA.org for more information.
Seroka also noted that work on key Port constructions projects, such as the Badger Avenue Bridge and LA Waterfront, has not been impacted and will continue.
Please see video statement below by Executive Director Gene Seroka. For more information, visit portofla.org/covid19.
The Port of Los Angeles remains open with all terminals operational during the COVID-19 pandemic and serves as the temporary homeport of the Naval hospital ship USNS Mercy. North America’s leading seaport by container volume and cargo value, the Port of Los Angeles facilitated $276 billion in trade during 2019. San Pedro Bay port complex operations and commerce facilitate one in nine jobs in the five-county Southern California region.