Dive Brief:
- The Port of Los Angeles received nearly $8 million in funding from a California program for port interoperability, according to a July 16 press release.
- The port will use the funds to pursue three projects that will enhance the Port Optimizer technology such as development for a new California Ports Mobile application for increased visibility on container movement, an improved truck appointment system using artificial intelligence and better user visibility into greenhouse gas emissions.
- “Our state’s ports are critical to the stability of our national and global supply chains, and these historic grants will allow California ports and its stakeholders to benefit from its data sharing capabilities,” Executive Director Gene Seroka said in the release.
Dive Insight:
Stakeholders have had access to the Port Optimizer since 2017 with a number of improvments throughout the years, a Port of Los Angeles spokesperson said in an email to Supply Chain Dive.
“Our port optimizer data provides stakeholders with up to 40 days of advanced visibility on their cargo, effectively enabling us to see around corners and over hills. This ability to anticipate and address potential issues allows us to resolve challenges much quicker than ever before,” Seroka said in a media briefing on July 17.
The grant from California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration will help further enhance the data and tools available for shippers and carriers using the port, through the three initiatives proposed by the Port of Los Angeles.
For example, the new mobile application, dubbed CalPorts, will allow users to connect to the Department of Transportation’s Freight Logistics Operations Works program.
Similarly, the port is looking to leverage AI to improve the way truckers make appointments. The project will combine the port’s Trucking Appointment System with the Port Optimizer Track and Trace system for transparent cross-terminal scheduling and real-time container tracking. The system may later integrate with other port trucking appointment systems such as the Port of Long Beach.
“The two San Pedro Bay Ports are currently in negotiation to build a long-term business model that will fulfill the needs of truckers,” according to the grant program report.
Port of Los Angeles receives $7,950,000 for various tech advancements
| Task Description | Award Amount |
|---|---|
| Project 1: CalPorts Mobile Application | $1,320,000 |
| Discovery | $120,000 |
| Data Ingestion and Integration | $400,000 |
| Data Modeling and Foundation | $800,000 |
| Project 2: Trucking Appointment System | $2,930,000* |
| Discovery | $95,000 |
| Data Ingestion and Integration | $310,000 |
| Data Modeling and Foundation | $750,000 |
| Trucking Appointment AI | $850,000 |
| UX Development | $250,000 |
| UI Implementation | $300,000 |
| QA | $250,000 |
| Project 3: Carbon Intensity Gateway | $3,700,000 |
| Discovery | $220,000 |
| Data Ingestion and Integration | $480,000 |
| Data Modeling and Foundation | $1,100,000 |
| Optimal Routing AI | $500,000 |
| UX Development | $550,000 |
| UI Implementation | $550,000 |
| QA | $250,000 |
| Deployment | $50,000 |
SOURCE: California Containerized Ports Interoperability Grant Program *Note: Project 2 received more funding than was itemized in the report.
California awarded about $27 million of dollars in funding to several ports in the state, to further enhance their data sharing platforms. The Port of Long Beach was also awarded nearly $8 million to improve its Supply Chain Information Highway. Together, projects at the two San Pedro Bay ports account for over 58% of the funds awarded.
