Long Beach looks to the future

The Port of Long Beach is inviting proposals from parties interested in developing the Pier Echo terminal site for the use of renewable fuels, marine liquid bulk petroleum products and crude oil.

The Request for Proposal is an amended version of one issued earlier this year to allow the inclusion of crude oil in addition to petroleum products and renewable fuels, reported Sustainable Shipping last week.

The lease will include environmental compliance requirements under the 2006 San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action PLan (CAAP), and any subsequent updates to the CAAP, the Port commented.

The goal of the CAAP is to reduce emissions from port-related mobile sources and associated health risk while facilitating growth in trade.

The Port has committed that all new projects will incorporate applicable CAAP measures, which include the vessel speed reduction programme with 40 nautical miles (nm) of Point Fermin, clean fuel of <0.20% sulphur for vessel engines with 40nm of Point Fermin, and the reduction or offset of at-berth emissions from vessel auxiliary and/or boiler engines.

The port commented that there is a need for additional marine crude oil and petroleum products infrastructure to ensure that "future demand will not outstrip capacity."

"Since California is not connected by pipeline to other major refinery centres in the country, refined petroleum products and renewable fuels must be brought in by tanker vessels to meet regional demand," said the POLB.

The port added that it would undertake the seismic reinforcement and dredging projects at T124 subject to approval by the Board and contingent upon compliance with California Environmental Quality Act and the National Policy Act requirements.

A complete list of requirements can be found at the Port of Long Beach website. The deadline for new proposals are August 27, 2010.