Hahn Outlines His Vision for Port

In his first “state of the harbor” address, Los Angeles Mayor James K. Hahn on Friday touted a series of proposals designed to bridge the historical divide between the Port of Los Angeles and surrounding communities long burdened by its truck traffic, diesel emissions and expansion projects.

At a news conference held at the water’s edge outside the Banning’s Landing Community Center in Wilmington, Hahn said, “My commitment is to make the port more user-friendly by moving all industrial uses from the west channel to other locations in the port complex, such as Terminal Island.

“This will make room for a waterfront promenade that stretches from the Vincent Thomas Bridge to the breakwater,” Hahn said, drawing applause from many of the 300 port officials, dockworkers and local residents who turned out for a glimpse of his vision for the port.

Even some of Hahn’s toughest critics expressed cautious optimism about his outline for making the region cleaner, safer and more financially successful.

Improvement projects include plans to decorate the Vincent Thomas Bridge with blue lights, and to remove above-ground storage tanks belonging to the Ultramar Inc.-Valero Wilmington Refinery near downtown Wilmington.

The port also is in the process of implementing new, strict environmental standards with a goal of no net increase in air emissions. About 35% of the port’s own fleet of vehicles and equipment soon will be replaced with lower-emissions alternatives, Hahn said.

In addition, he said, the city is “working with international vessels to voluntarily reduce speeds as they arrive and depart, retrofitting all of our tugs to alternative fuels, providing electric cranes and dredges, and using low-sulfur diesel fuels.”

While in Asia last month during his first major overseas mission, Hahn forged plans for the alternative maritime power program, which would provide container ships with electricity while docked in port, and generate up to $30 million for the Department of Water and Power.

The reduction in pollutants released into the air could be substantial, Hahn said, given that each ship burns more than 7 tons of fuel each day while idling its engines for power. So far, he said, four of Asia’s major steamship lines have tentatively agreed to participate in the program.

On Friday, Hahn signed another such agreement with P&O; Nedlloyd of New Jersey, one of the world’s largest shipping companies.

Andy Mardesich, former leader of the failed harbor secession movement, said: “Mayor Hahn is on the right road. But we can’t forget that these are still just plans and promises. It’s going to take at least a year to see whether or not he follows through.”

Jesse Marquez of the Wilmington Coalition for a Safe Environment also perceived a better relationship between the port and his community taking root. He pointed out, however, that “if they really want to improve Wilmington, which has some of the highest rates of homicide, gang violence and poverty in the city, they’ll have to include improvements for our downtown, not just the waterfront.”