CITT News

PHOTO: Long Beach Container Terminal

In recognition of the 55th Earth Day, the Center for International Trade and Transportation (CITT), in collaboration with Long Beach Transit (LBT), Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) and the Port of Long Beach’s Academy of Global Logistics (AGL), hosted an educational tour of the sustainable innovations taking place at the San Pedro Bay Port Complex.

PHOTO: AGL students tour Yusen Terminals aboard an LBT battery-electric bus, led by Fran Ohlheiser, Director of Communications at Yusen Terminals.

“Working with AGL students and faculty is one of the most rewarding things we do at CITT,” said CITT Executive Director Tyler Reeb. “The future is changing so rapidly that it has become essential to bring students to real-world workplaces to ‘learn in the trenches.’ It’s the only way to keep pace with the astonishing technological transformations occurring throughout our global supply chains.”

AGL students boarded a Long Beach Transit battery-electric bus on the morning of April 21, operated by Ignacio Pimental, Transit Service Delivery (TSD) Supervisor, and Anthony Woodard, TSD Bus Operator. They then toured the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach for a firsthand look at how two of the nation’s largest ports are implementing new clean energy logistics technologies. The tour included stops at Yusen Terminal at the Port of Los Angeles and the Long Beach Container Terminal (LBCT) at the Port of Long Beach, two terminal operators at the forefront of zero-emission operations.

PHOTO: Bonnie Nixon, Director of Sustainability at LBCT, led the tour of LBCT’s facilities. 

PHOTO: Ignacio Pimental, Transit Service Delivery (TSD) Supervisor, and Anthony Woodard, TSD Bus Operator, led the tour from start to finish.

Fran Ohlheiser, Director of Communications at Yusen Terminals, showcased the terminal’s hydrogen fuel cell rubber-tire gantry crane, battery-electric top handlers, and the energy infrastructure that ensures cleaner operations at the ports, year after year. Bonnie Nixon, Director of Sustainability at LBCT, introduced students to automated guided vehicles (AGVs) that transport containers across the terminal and battery exchange facilities that allow for the continuous operation of their battery-electric equipment, eliminating the need for long recharge times. 

According to James Dowding, co-lead of the Academy of Global Logistics, "Students were amazed at the different technological innovations and what is happening literally in their backyard. What was nice is that students can see future careers in the areas of Supply Chain and Global Logistics.  More importantly, students can see the real-world applications of the different courses they are enrolled in." Antony Pelesasa, Communications Specialist for the Port of Long Beach, also weighed in. “It’s always amazing to see the industry support that the AGL pathway receives,” said Pelesasa. “From field trips to the many networking opportunities, AGL students are exposed to professional experiences day in and day out.”

During their visit, AGL students and teachers stopped at the Terminal Island Japanese Fishing Village Memorial for lunch. Although not often listed among tourist destinations in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, the Japanese Fishing Village is a pivotal site in Japanese American history. 

PHOTO: Students visited the Terminal Island Japanese Fishing Village Memorial during the lunch break portion of the tour.

CITT is a proud partner of the Port of Long Beach’s Academy of Global Logistics, which combines academic curriculum with industry-relevant training and information to support academic and career development.