Navigating the Waves of Success
Port of Los Angeles Unveils Ambitious Plans and Economic Resilience in 9th Annual State of the Port Luncheon
Natasha Villa, External Affairs Manager
On January 10, 2024, in collaboration with the Port of Los Angeles, the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association hosted the 9th Annual State of the Port of Los Angeles Luncheon. This event featured Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and City Councilmember Tim McOsker, alongside the keynote speaker, Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka.
Mayor Bass spoke first, and touted the national importance of the Port of Los Angeles, emphasizing its economic significance and commitment to sustainable practices, noting that the Port of Los Angeles “is vital to the entire city, the entire state, and the entire country.” Mayor Bass pledged collaboration for zero-emission goals, and called for joint efforts to create job opportunities and promote marine sciences, urging collective action to transform the port into an opportunity engine for all. Perhaps most importantly, after acknowledging all of these challenges and the economic importance of seaport operations, Mayor Bass spoke directly to the maritime community and said, “at City Hall, we want you to know that we have your back.”
Executive Director Seroka gave his speech in front of a crowd of approximately 550 attendees. Mr. Seroka outlined ambitious plans for 2024, focusing on community investment, environmental leadership, workforce development, and enhanced infrastructure to accommodate growing cargo demands. His speech also featured multiple videos that highlighted the Port’s commitment to environmental improvement, including the recent award of federal grants to help establish a new hydrogen hub at the Port.
In addition to the year ahead, Mr. Seroka emphasized that in 2023, the Port of Los Angeles maintained its status as the nation's top container port for the 24th consecutive year. The Port finished 2023 handling 8,634,497 TEUs.
While this reflected a 13% decline from the previous year, Mr. Seroka highlighted a robust recovery in the past five months, coupled with an increase in market share stating that Port of Los Angeles’ “exports had the highest volume since 2020, up more than 7% year over year.” The Port also processed 763,262 TEUs in December 2023, a 19% improvement when compared to the same period in 2022.
Looking towards the future, Mr. Seroka stated that “our work in the year ahead will entail moving forward on a number of fronts, all of which reflect how much we value our community, the environment, and the jobs and workforce that moves cargo through our Port.”
A big thank you to the Port of Los Angeles staff for their outstanding efforts in making this event possible. PMSA staff would also like to express gratitude to the event sponsors for their generous support. These contributions have been instrumental in the success of this event. Thanks to these sponsors, this event has raised more than a quarter of a million dollars for EXP and the International Seafarers Center.
