The Port of Long Beach’s Supply Chain Information Highway received nearly $8 million in funding from a California program for port interoperability, according to a July 11 press release.
The port will use the funds to pursue several projects that will enhance the digital platform, allowing it to provide better cargo planning resources for more than 200,000 shippers who use the Port of Long Beach. These new enhancements are set to increase cargo velocity and tighten coordination across modes of transportation, Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero said in the release.
The projects will include deploying technology that can read container numbers from passing trains, using the trucking appointment system to streamline container pickups by integrating all terminals into one system, and developing non-containerized cargo data feeds.
Port of Long Beach receives $7,875,000 for various tech advancements
| Task Description | Award Amount |
|---|---|
| Advancing Exporter Data Visibility | $750,000 |
| Stakeholder Portal Integration | $430,000 |
| Advancing Rail Tracking and Visibility | $1,000,000 |
| Environmental Green Corridor and Transportation Program | $1,495,000 |
| Truck Appointment System | $2,950,000 |
| Non-Containerized Cargo Data Feed | $1,250,000 |
SOURCE: California Containerized Ports Interoperability Grant Program
The port has been developing the Supply Chain Information Highway in partnership with technology firm UNCOMN since 2019. The free visibility software will “enable stakeholders to make scheduling, planning and operational decisions prior to cargo arrival, making the delivery of goods more efficient and cost effective,” according to the release.
Multiple ports have already joined the data-sharing system, including the Port of Oakland, Northwest Seaport Alliance and the Utah Inland Port Authority.
“With six marine terminals at the Port of Long Beach now connecting to a beta version of the Supply Chain Information Highway, we’ve entered a crucial phase of development,” Cordero said in the release.
The funds, granted by the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development, are part of a $27 million investment by California into port data systems.
