Infographic: L.A. ports struggle with a revolution in shipping
Facing severe financial troubles, the world’s ocean shipping lines have raced to build ever-larger container ships in an effort to cut costs and remain competitive. The arrival of megaships has overwhelmed existing infrastructure at seaports across the world, including Los Angeles and Long Beach.
Read more: Megaship docks in L.A. as change roils shipping industry | Local ports losing to rivals amid struggle with giant ships
Economies of scale
Since cargo ships were adapted in 1955 to carry containers — measured in standard 20-foot units known as TEUs — the size and carrying capacity of container ships has grown rapidly.
(Detailed)
1957
2015
2018
750 TEU
5,400 tons
19,000 TEU
200,000
460 ft. long
1,310
(Detailed)
2018
1957
2015
750 TEU
5,400 tons
19,000 TEU
200,000
24,000 TEU
255,000*
1,310
460 ft. long
1,410
(Detailed)
1957
1988
1995
2005
2015
2018
750 TEU
5,400 tons
3,500 TEU
54,000
6,000 TEU
84,000
9,900 TEU
105,000
19,000 TEU
200,000
24,000 TEU
255,000*
905
1,310
460 ft. long
1,045
1,090
1,410
(Detailed)
1988
2005
1957
1995
2015
2018
750 TEU
5,400 tons
9,900 TEU
105,000
3,500 TEU
54,000
6,000 TEU
84,000
19,000 TEU
200,000
24,000 TEU
255,000*
460 ft. long
905
1,045
1,090
1,310
1,410
(Detailed)
1988
2005
1957
1995
2015
2018
750 TEU
5,400 tons
3,500 TEU
54,000
6,000 TEU
84,000
9,900 TEU
105,000
19,000 TEU
200,000
24,000 TEU
255,000*
460 ft. long
905
1,045
1,090
1,310
1,410
Bigger ships, deeper channels
Packing thousands of containers into a single hull has created vessels that sit deeper in the water, more than 50 feet below the surface. Port authorities have embarked on extensive dredging of older channels and berths to accommodate the new ships.
Standard container
(40 x 8 feet)
1 TEU
(20 x 8 feet)
305 FT
Cargo
holds
STATUE OF LIBERTY
TO SCALE
Gantry cranes load/offload
containers from the ship
Standard container
(40 x 8 feet)
1 TEU
(20 x 8 feet)
Docking berth
Containers
Cargo
holds
305 FT
A large container ship sits more
than 50 feet below the waterline.
Gantry cranes load/offload
containers from the ship
Standard container
(40 x 8 feet)
1 TEU
(20 x 8 feet)
Docking berth
Containers
Cargo
holds
305 FT
STATUE OF LIBERTY
TO SCALE
52 FT
A large container ship sits more
than 50 feet below the waterline.
Standard container
(40 x 8 feet)
1 TEU
(20 x 8 feet)
Gantry cranes load/offload
containers from the ship
Docking berth
Containers
Cargo
holds
305 FT
52 FT
STATUE OF LIBERTY
TO SCALE
A large container ship sits more than 50 feet below
the waterline, requiring deeper channels.
Standard container
(40 x 8 feet)
1 TEU
(20 x 8 feet)
Gantry cranes load/offload
containers from the ship
Docking berth
Carbon
footprint
(per ton
shipped
100 miles)
305 FT
Air freight
198.6 pounds
52 FT
STATUE OF LIBERTY
TO SCALE
Truck 16.7
A large container ship sits more than 50 feet below
the waterline, requiring deeper channels.
Giant container
ship 1.1
Rail
6.4
Source: Maersk Lines
Major expansions underway
To accommodate larger ships and remain competitive with Gulf and East coast ports, authorities at the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports have embarked on multibillion- dollar capital improvement plans, including expanded terminals and deeper channels. Long Beach’s Middle Harbor terminal, when complete, will be the nation’s fourth-largest port complex.
Completed
Planned
Long
Beach
Dredged
ship berth
Long
Beach
Harbor
L.A.
LANDFILLS
Main channel
deepened from
45 to 53 ft.
SUBMERGED
FILLS
1 MILE
Pacific Ocean
Completed
Planned
710
Dredged
ship berth
Long
Beach
110
47
Terminal
Island
Long
Beach
Harbor
L.A.
LANDFILLS
1 MILE
L.A.
Harbor
Main channel
deepened from
45 to 53 feet
SUBMERGED
FILLS
Pacific Ocean
Completed
Planned
Dredged
ship berth
Long
Beach
710
DREDGED
BERTHS
110
DREDGED
CHANNELS
47
LANDFILLS
Long Beach
Middle Harbor
DREDGED
BERTH
SUBMERGED
FILL
Terminal
Island
L.A.
Long Beach
Outer Harbor
LANDFILL
LANDFILL
LANDFILL
1 MILE
Main channel
deepened from
45 to 53 feet
SUBMERGED
FILLS
Pacific Ocean
Completed
Planned
Dredged
ship berth
710
DREDGED
BERTHS
Cerritos
Channel
A
B
110
C
DREDGED
CHANNELS
47
LANDFILLS
Long
Beach
Long Beach
Middle Harbor
SUBMERGED
FILL
DREDGED
BERTH
Terminal
Island
L.A.
Long Beach
Outer Harbor
LANDFILL
LANDFILL
LANDFILL
1 MILE
L.A.
Harbor
Main channel
deepened from
45 to 53 feet
SUBMERGED
FILLS
Pacific Ocean
$510-million project
to automate the
TraPac terminal
$1.3-billion project
to replace the Gerald
Desmond Bridge
$1.3-billion Middle
Harbor expansion
project
A.
B.
C.
Completed
Planned
Dredged
ship berth
710
Cerritos
Channel
A
B
110
DREDGED
BERTHS
C
47
DREDGED
CHANNELS
LANDFILLS
Long Beach
Middle Harbor
Long
Beach
SUBMERGED
FILL
DREDGED
BERTH
Terminal
Island
L.A.
Long Beach
Outer Harbor
LANDFILL
LANDFILL
BREAKWATER
LANDFILL
Pacific Ocean
L.A.
Harbor
Main channel
deepened from
45 to 53 feet
1 MILE
SUBMERGED
FILLS
Pacific Ocean
$510-million project
to automate the
TraPac terminal
$1.3-billion project
to replace the Gerald
Desmond Bridge
$1.3-billion Middle
Harbor expansion
project
A.
B.
C.
Sources: The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach
ALSO
L.A. County jail inmates were handcuffed to a wall for hours on 'potty watch'
Fleeing Syria: Refugees find dizzying freedoms and unexpected dangers in Brazil
Cold weather in Southern California expected to continue this week
