Port of Los Angeles demonstrates that it remains a dominant destination for mega vessels

While there has been mounting concern about the competitiveness of U.S. West Coast ports of late, history was made last week when the Port of Los Angeles, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, APM Terminals Los Angeles and International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Locals 13, 63 and 94 successfully moved 18,465 containers from the MSC Isabella during a single ship call at APM Terminals’ Pier 400. 

This new all-time world record — equal to 34,263 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) — is 1,385 containers more than the previously held record. 

One of the largest ships in the world, the MSC Isabella is part of a new class of 23,000+ TEUs sustainable container ships recently added to the MSC global shipping network. MSC Isabella’s arrival in Los Angeles marks its first time calling at a North American container port.

It's also worth noting that the Port of LA remains open with all terminals operational during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

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.

The news could not come at a better time.

As observed  in this space recently, West Coast ports’ market share has declined 19.4 percent since 2006, according to a new briefing paper released recently by the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association.