How LBCT Vessel Operations Set Global Benchmarks

November 25th, 2025

From handling ultra-large vessels to pursuing net-zero emissions, Long Beach Container Terminal (LBCT)’s vessel operations are defining new benchmarks. Keep reading to learn more about the key aspects that distinguish our approach, how we’re influencing the industry, and what others can learn.

When a container ship arrives, every minute counts. LBCT has structured our vessel operations to reduce delays and maximize throughput. For example:

• LBCT features some of the largest cranes in the world, and a berth length over 4,200 feet and deep channel draft, enabling us to handle the largest vessels afloat.
• LBCT has 18 ship-to‐shore (STS) cranes equipped with dual hoist capability (tandem lifts of 4 TEU) to accelerate container handling.
• The terminal boasts a capacity of 3.5 + million TEU on-site, positioning it to manage not just today’s shipping demands but tomorrow’s.

What this means in practice: vessels spend less idle time, containers move faster from ship to yard, and global supply chains benefit from fewer bottlenecks. For shippers and carriers, this kind of operational muscle translates into predictability, faster turnaround and cost savings.

Even the most advanced cranes and systems require people, and LBCT places a premium on both workforce culture and safety. Every employee is empowered to act immediately on near-misses, and our terminal emphasizes that the wellbeing of every person in our workplace is valued above everything else.

Moreover, LBCT invests in training and workforce development, especially as automation and electrification change how cargo terminals operate. For example, onsite tours of LBCT by students, customers and other stakeholders emphasize how employees are being upskilled rather than sidelined.

Operational excellence isn’t purely mechanical—it’s built on people who trust the system, know the process and feel empowered. That trust becomes part of the global benchmark: a terminal that works at scale and cares about its workforce.

From a technological standpoint, LBCT sets a high bar:

• 18 all-electric ship-to-shore cranes, 6 all-electric rail-mounted intermodal yard cranes and 69 electric automatic stacking cranes.
• Battery-powered electric vehicles are used for horizontal transportation across the facility.
• On-dock rail capabilities, optical character recognition (OCR) for vessel, rail and gate transactions, and dual hoist tandem lifts.

Some of our key sustainability commitments include:

• Shore power at all berths so docked ships can plug in rather than run engines.
• A full Net Zero 2030 Climate Action Plan guiding the transition to zero-emissions equipment and operations.
• Large investments in zero-emission equipment and renewable energy infrastructure.

So why does LBCT matter beyond Long Beach? Because our vessel operations represent a composite of best practices that others can adopt and adapt. Here are four lessons:

1. Design for scale, then build for flexibility. LBCT’s large berth lengths and high-capacity cranes make it future-ready.
2. Integrate technology, don’t bolt it on. Intelligence, electrification and data systems at LBCT are part of the fabric of operations—not add-ons.
3. People matter. Efficiency is enhanced when workforce culture is strong and safety and training fields are prioritized.
4. Sustainability isn’t optional. As regulation tightens and customers demand greener supply chains, terminals that embed green operations will outpace those that don’t.

It’s one thing to talk about benchmarks—another to measure them. LBCT offers several indicators:

• We manage 3.5+ million TEU capacity, allowing handling of the largest vessels.
• Our redeveloped terminal supports one of the largest on-dock rail yards in North America, shifting cargo away from trucks.
• We’ve deployed numerous zero-emission machines with plans for future upgrades to our equipment fleet.

For logistics professionals, these figures aren’t just marketing—they signal performance thresholds. If a terminal moves toward these kinds of metrics, it’s not merely keeping up, but leading.

The ripple effects of LBCT’s vessel operations extend far beyond the terminal. Below are a few examples:

• Supply-chain reliability improves. Faster vessel turnaround means less risk of shipping delays for importers and exporters.
• Environmental benefits accrue to local communities. Less truck traffic, cleaner air and quieter operations in surrounding neighborhoods.
• Global trade dynamics shift. Container terminals that can handle mega-ships afford carriers different routing options, influencing freight costs and network design.
• Workforce evolution accelerates. The shift toward new low or zero emission technologies at LBCT pushes broader programs in skills development and highly trained workforce.

Long Beach Container Terminal (LBCT) stands as a living case-study of how vessel operations can be engineered for the future—efficient at scale, technologically advanced, sustainable, and humane. If you’re in logistics, shipping, import/export, or port operations, watching LBCT’s evolution offers insights.

If you’d like more information about LBCT’s vessel-operations capabilities, reach out to us and request a facility tour or operations briefing.