As published in Port Technology International.

Toks Omishakin, Secretary, California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA), visited the Port of Long Beach this week to see a record state grant in action.

The funding is supporting more than 22,000 jobs, cutting emissions and building a more sustainable supply chain at one of America’s busiest ports.

Omishakin joined port, state, and ILWU Locals 13, 63 and 94 officials at SSA Terminals’ Pier C facility, a joint venture between SSA Marine and Matson, to mark the arrival of 15 zero-emission, human-operated, American-made yard tractors, along with associated charging infrastructure and a tugboat repowered with a low-emission engine.

The equipment was procured through the Port’s System-Wide Investment in Freight Transport (SWIFT) programme.

SWIFT is funded by CalSTA’s $1.3 billion Port and Freight Infrastructure Program (PFIP). In 2023, the port received a record $383 million in PFIP grant funding, including more than $158 million for the Pier B rail support facility, which will shift cargo from trucks to on-dock rail.

The funding is expected to cut more than 12 per cent of carbon dioxide emissions and over 5 per cent of nitrogen oxide emissions tied to port operations annually by 2028.

Port of Long Beach CEO, Dr Noel Hacegaba, said: “The Port of the Future will be faster, more efficient and cleaner and will require strong partnerships and significant financial investment. Thanks to the state’s commitment to a more sustainable supply chain and support from partners like SSA Terminals, Matson and the ILWU, the Port of Long Beach is accelerating our path to becoming the world’s first zero-emissions port.”

Nicolas Gauthier, President, SSA Marine’s Global Container Division, stated: “SSA Marine is committed to environmental responsibility, operational efficiency, and environmental innovation across our operations. We are proud to partner with the Port of Long Beach and the State of California on this deployment of 15 zero-emission yard tractors, and we look forward to transitioning additional zero-emission cargo handling equipment at the port in the future.”

The yard tractors were built by Orange EV of Kansas City, Kansas, and form part of $37.8 million in awards for zero-emissions cargo-handling equipment at Pier C.

In 2027, SSA Terminals is expected to add nine battery-electric top handlers and supporting infrastructure under a further $28.8 million project.

Published: June 30, 2026/Port Technology International