Noel Hacegaba,s Game Plan: Driving Port of Long Beach Toward 2026 Zero - EmissionGoals

As the new chief executive of the Port of Long Beach, Dr Noel Hacegaba charts a course through global trade uncertainty. Hacegaba has been making his mark at the Port of Long Beach for 16 years – starting out as executive officer to the Board of Harbour Commissioners. In January, he reached the top of the ladder when he became chief executive, a position that will allow him to implement or conclude projects he has spent years planning, according to the Los Angeles Business Journal.

"It feels like I can't believe it's been 100 days already because I hit the ground running and haven't stopped," he said shortly after reaching the milestone. ‘In other ways, I can’t believe it’s only been 100 days, because we’ve achieved so much in such a short time.’

The Port of Long Beach has been the nation's busiest.

On the one hand, Hacegaba is already a well-oiled machine. Since the worst days of the pandemic, when a logjam of cargo vessels in San Pedro Bay made headlines, ships have been flowing in and out of the port's terminals relatively easily. Last year was a record 12 months for cargo volume handled, and so far this year, the Port of Long Beach has been the nation's busiest. The rate at which containers are removed from terminals, whether by truck or rail, has remained relatively high.

The existence of port projects.

Nevertheless, work is underway to upgrade the port. Work is ongoing at  Pier B on-dock rail facility. Terminal operator ITS is completing a slip to accommodate the largest container ships. The proposal for Pier W, which is to be a floating terminal for assembling floating wind turbines, is already in the planning and fundraising stages. In partnership with the Port of Los Angeles, the Clean Air Action Plan will continue to reduce particulate matter in the air. The port's 2050 plan is to double its annual cargo capacity to 20 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units).

Related : Noel Hacegaba : A new CEO of Port of Long Beach -2026

Building the port of the future

Ports are pivotal nexuses where trade, geopolitics, climate, and technology intersect. All the forces that are reshaping the world – not just the global supply chain, but the world – they all intersect at our port," Hacegaba said. ‘When we talk about building the port of the future, it has to be fast, resilient, clean, and connected. That involves connecting with our region, our state, and our partners at the federal level.’

The main source of employment 

Rex Richardson, the Mayor of Long Beach, is among those partners. In recent months, he has explained his plans to bring the city into the future. This means a future less dependent on the oil and gas industry, but still supporting the blue-collar jobs that have always been the main source of employment for residents of the second-largest city in Los Angeles County.

Accelerate the adoption of zero-emission technology for this equipment.

On the other hand, as Hacegaba has periodically stressed, to bring those jobs into the future, blue-collar equipment such as loaders, cranes, and drayage trucks also needs to transition away from fossil fuels. This was evident in November when the two ports secured a cooperative agreement with the South Coast Air Quality Management District to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission technology for this equipment.

The success of the cooperative agreement

It was noted by Hacegaba that the leadership and support of the mayor were essential for the success of the cooperative agreement, with Mayor Karen Bass also being involved. ‘That’s the kind of leadership our mayor provides. He recognises the importance and value of our port to our city, our region and the nation. He’s our biggest champion.”

The establishment of the Supply Chain Information Highway

In the last year or so of his tenure, the port’s former chief executive, Mario Cordero, had publicly taken the then chief operating officer, Hacegaba, under his wing. After all, Hacegaba had previously negotiated the multibillion-dollar sales of both the Long Beach Container Terminal and Total Terminals International. His efforts to streamline operations during the pandemic also resulted in the establishment of the Supply Chain Information Highway, which is shared with the Port of Los Angeles.

#Rex Richardson #Mario Cordero #Port of Long Beach #San Pedro Bay #Noel Hacegaba # Los Angeles Business Journal # 2026 Zero - EmissionGoals