The Port of Long Beach has invested $102 million in the purchase and maintenance of zero-emission cargo handling equipment funding for cleaner ship engines, and planning for a zero-carbon future at the terminal.

The equipment investment is part of the System-Wide Investment in Freight TransportSWIFT) initiative. Funded by the California Transportation Commission’s Port and Freight Infrastructure Program, the plan aims to improve the efficiency of cargo transportation and reduce environmental impacts on communities.

The majority of the funds, $93.4 million, will go towards the acquisition of 65 fully zero-emission cargo handling equipment and related infrastructure for tenants, and will also support the port’s on-water operators to replace 37 ship engines with cleaner or zero-emission engines.

In addition the Port of Long Beach will invest $8.3 million in the design of zero-emission infrastructure at the A-Terminal SSA Terminal and the J-Terminal Container Terminal.

All of the funded cargo handling equipment will be operated by a human operator. Under the Grant Assignment Agreement approved by the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners September 8, recipients must provide at least a 20% match of the total cost of the project.

“The Port of Long Beach is charging forward towards its-emission goals, demonstrating a path towards a greener future through pilot projects, investments, and grants,” said Mario Cordero, CEO of the Port of Long Beach.

“One of the core values of the Port of Long Beach is to actively take measures to protect the environment while providing high-wage jobs,” said Frank Colonna, of the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners. “This investment helps our industry partners purchase new, cleaner equipment so they can continue to move cargo efficiently at the busiest port in the United States, while also paving the way for the zero-emission goals at both terminals.”