| The 3200-acre Port of Long Beach was founded in 1911 when the California Legislature gave the City of Long Beach rights to manage and develop the harbor for commerce, navigation, recreation, and fisheries. Port Commerce The Port of Long Beach is a major economic center, providing more than 300 thousand jobs in Southern California. It accounts for about $16 billion in annual trade-related wages for the State. More than $100 billion in trade moves through each year, making the Port of Long Beach the second busiest port in the U.S. And it's the 16th busiest container cargo port in the world. Import goods include clothing, furniture, toys, and consumer electronics and dedicated terminals handle oil, cement, lumber, automobiles, and steel. In 2007, the Port of Long Beach handled more than 7.31 million containers and over 87 million tons of cargo valued at over $140 billion. During that year, 5300 vessels called at port. The Port of Long Beach boasts its environmental program as a model for worldwide ports, and it has put in place many environmental protection initiatives to improve air quality. The City's Long Beach Harbor Department is responsible for developing and promoting the Port of Long Beach. Cruising and Travel The Port of Long Beach is home to the famous Queen Mary luxury cruise liner. Retired there in 1967, tourists enjoy staying at the ship's hotel and visiting the onboard museum. While once an unattractive spot for tourism, the Port of Long Beach has undergone a transformation to a modern tourist resort with many waterfront amusements, including a new high-tech aquarium, art museums, public golf courses, and many quaint shops. It's the sight for the April Grand Prix international race. The Port of Long Beach offers many opportunities for recreation on its 8-mile beachfront. Visitors can even cruise Naples Island in a Venetian gondola. |
