The shipping platform

Location: Long Beach is located on the SW coast of the USA, in California, E of immediately adjacent to, Los Angeles. General overview: Long Beach is a man-made harbour in the E half of San Pedro Bay. The port, with a depth dredged to 23.2m and 213m width main channel, consists of an outer harbour, middle harbour and an inner harbour. The water depth ranges from 15.2m in the inner harbour to 23.2m in the middle harbour and East Basin, which can now accommodate VLCC's without lightening off port. The port has 10 piers and 74 operational cargo berths, seven container terminals and 2 container freight stations. The port handles container shipments with the use of 66 post Panamax cranes. Imports: Include bulk petroleum, steel, electric machinery and parts, electronic goods, plastics, clothing, furniture, vehicles, newsprint and food. Exports: Include bulk petroleum, petroleum coke, chemicals, cotton, plastic and rubber products, waste paper, scrap metal and food. Traffic figures: Approx 5,000 vessels, 76,600,000t of cargo and 6,100,000TEU handled annually. Load line zone: North Pacific Seasonal Tropical Area, Tropical Mar 1 to June 30 and Nov 1 to Nov 30, Summer Jul 1 to Oct 31 and Dec 1 to Feb 28/29.