Ports Briefs: Feds Fund Waterways For POLB and POLA Launches Cyber Resilience Center

Federal Funding Announced for Navigation Improvements

LONG BEACH— The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is receiving $8 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to help make navigational efficiency improvements to Port of Long Beach waterways that will allow visiting ships to transit the harbor faster, reduce transportation costs and cut pollution.

Last October, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers signed a chief’s report showing deepening and widening channels in the harbor would lead to air pollution reductions, improved vessel navigation and national economic benefits of almost $21 million each year.

Among other features, the recommended plan includes deepening the Approach Channel from 76 feet to 80 feet, constructing an approach channel to Pier J South to a depth of 55 feet, deepening portions of the West Basin from 50 feet to 55 feet, and performing structural improvements to breakwaters at Pier J to allow for depths of 55 feet. 

The funds awarded this week will help initiate and complete the preconstruction, engineering and design phase.

Details: Final Integrated Feasibility Report

POLA Launches Cyber Resilience Center

SAN PEDRO — The Port of Los Angeles Jan. 24, debuted its Cyber Resilience Center or CRC, a state-of-the-art port community cyber defense solution created to improve the cybersecurity readiness of the port and enhance its threat-sharing and recovery capabilities among supply chain stakeholders. The CRC was designed through a collaborative process with participating stakeholders and will be operated by International Business Machines or IBM.

Envisioned as a “system of systems,” the CRC enables participating stakeholders to automatically share cyber threat indicators and potential defensive measures with each other. This approach centralizes threat information for the port’s stakeholders and helps prevent cyber disruption of the supply chain. The platform serves as a hub for the port to receive, analyze and share information among its stakeholders who handle cargo, such as terminal operators, shipping lines, truck, rail and others, among its cross-sector stakeholders who provide support services, and from external intelligence sources. The CRC is also available to participating stakeholders as an advisory resource to assist with recovery.

The first group of about 20 participating stakeholders are now using the new system and gaining access to IBM X-Force Threat Intelligence and more groups are expected to join every six months. As part of its operations, the CRC will be conducting tabletop exercises with participating stakeholders and providing them with annual cybersecurity training.