Port Briefs: Port, Partners Prioritize Dairy Exports, New Components to Port Optimizer™ and POLA Sees Busiest January Ever

POLA, And CMA CGM Make Progress to Prioritize US Dairy Exports

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), the Port of Los Angeles, and CMA CGM — a world leader in shipping and logistics — say the groups are working together to prioritize exports of U.S. dairy products and report significant progress moving cargo to Southeast Asia, South America, and other export destinations.

In January, the groups formed the Dairy Exports Working Group to identify and address supply chain issues hampering U.S. dairy product exports. Ongoing discussions, planning, and problem-solving among the organizations have yielded breakthroughs that could lead to long-term solutions for U.S. dairy exports, including moving cargo from the interior of the United States to the West Coast.

Details: https://tinyurl.com/mr2vras4 

POLA Rolls Out New Components to Port Optimizer™  Digital Platform

SAN PEDRO — The Port of Los Angeles has unveiled new features to its Port Optimizer™, the nation’s first and only port community system that allows shippers, cargo owners, terminal operators and others to better predict and plan cargo at the U.S. trade gateway.

Through the partnership with Wabtec Corporation and GeoStamp, stakeholders now have a single view that offers real-time and historical truck turn times for all 12 container terminals in the San Pedro Bay port complex. For Port of Los Angeles container terminals, average dwell times for both trucks and on-dock rail are also available.

Developed in collaboration with Wabtec, the Port Optimizer is a cloud-based information portal that digitizes maritime shipping data for supply chain stakeholders. First introduced by the Port of Los Angeles in 2017, the digital platform has continually added new application features. 

The Port Optimizer Control Tower is the primary dashboard to access all the new features. Register at https://tower.portoptimizer.com. When logging into the Control Tower, users will find the following data:

Signal provides a daily look at cargo coming into Los Angeles, displaying projected volumes three weeks out.

Horizon forecasts cargo movement up to six months in advance and gauges movement of containers, including imports, exports and empties.

Volumes offer historical containerized volumes by terminal, shipping line and vessel, in addition to trending volumes by terminal, service and vessel.

Turn Times offer real-time port-level views of San Pedro Bay truck turn times by terminal.

Days After Discharge shows real-time totals of the number of containers discharged from vessels and currently on the terminal.

Return Signal lets truckers know when and where to return empty containers to cargo terminals throughout the port complex.

Port of Los Angeles Sees Busiest January Ever

SAN PEDRO — The Port of Los Angeles processed 865,595 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in January, a 3.6% increase compared to last year. It was the port’s busiest January ever and a new milestone for a Western Hemisphere port.

Seroka announced the January volume during a virtual media briefing, where he also discussed gains in efficiencies, operational challenges and plans to improve the Port Optimizer. 

January 2022 loaded imports reached 427,208 TEUs compared to the previous year, a slight decline of 2.4%. Loaded exports came in at 100,185 TEUs, a 16% decrease compared to the same period last year. Exports have now declined 35 of the last 39 months in Los Angeles.

Empty containers climbed to 338,202 TEUs, a jump of 21.4% compared to last year due to the continued heavy demand in Asia. 

Details: www.youtube.com/watch?v/january-cargo-operations-update