FREE BOAT TOURS ON MAY 17 & 18
OF THE PORT OF LOS ANGELES
82nd Annual World Trade Week Activities
SAN PEDRO, Calif. – April 18, 2008 – The Port of Los Angeles is offering free boat tours to the public on Saturday and Sunday, May 17 and 18, in celebration of World Trade Week 2008. The hour-long tours of the nation’s number one containerport will depart both days between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. from Ports O’ Call Village, 1100 Nagoya Way in San Pedro, and Banning’s Landing Community Center, 100 E. Water Street in Wilmington. More than 10,000 visitors traditionally take part in these yearly free boat tours.
The Port sponsors the fully-narrated tours to keep community members up-to-date about what’s going on at America’s Port, the Port of Los Angeles, and to illustrate the importance of international trade to everyday living. There’s nothing like the experience of pulling up next to a massive containership as it unloads hundreds of containers filled with everyday goods such as toys and furniture or seeing the world’s largest container facility that covers nearly 500 acres — that’s comparable to the combined size of Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure. Wildlife is also thriving at the Port of Los Angeles; observe frolicking sea lions awaiting a treat outside the fish market and the California least terns as they gather for their nesting season. There’s quite a bit to see on the Port of Los Angeles Harbor tour. Come aboard!
Reservations are not required for the Port of Los Angeles free boat tours, which will board on a first-come, first-served basis. Wheelchair access is available at each departure point. Information about the Port’s World Trade Week Boat Tours program is available 24 hours a day on the Port’s toll-free special events line at (800) 831-PORT or call (310) 732-3508 during normal business hours or visit the Port’s website at www.portoflosangeles.org.
World Trade Week is a national, month-long program of tours, seminars and other events to educate the public about the significance of international trade to the local economy. For information about other local World Trade Week activities, call the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce at (213) 580-7569, or visit the official event website at www.worldtradeweek.com.
The Port of Los Angeles, also known as “America’s Port,” has a strong commitment to developing innovative strategic and sustainable operations that benefit the economy and the quality of life for the region and the nation it serves. A recipient of numerous environmental awards, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2007 Clean Air Excellence Award, the Port of Los Angeles is committed to innovating cleaner, greener ways of doing business. As the leading seaport in North America in terms of shipping container volume and cargo value, the Port generates 919,000 regional jobs and $39.1 billion in annual wages and tax revenues. A proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles, the Port is self-supporting and does not receive taxpayer dollars. The Port of Los Angeles - A cleaner port. A brighter future.