July 17th, 2025 – The International Transportation Service (ITS) terminal in Long Beach is set to begin a transformative $365 million upgrade on Monday, aimed at boosting efficiency, capacity, and environmental sustainability. Once complete, the terminal will be able to accommodate two 18,000-TEU vessels simultaneously and increase its container capacity by roughly 50%.
A key component of the project involves filling in a 19-acre slip that currently divides the terminal in two—an operational challenge that has long hindered efficiency. By reclaiming this space, ITS will consolidate into a single, more efficient 277-acre footprint. The expanded facility will offer 3,500 linear feet of berth, allowing it to service either two ultra-large container vessels or a mix of one large and two smaller ships at the same time.
Upgrades to the terminal’s aging technology are also part of the overhaul. A new terminal operating system (TOS) will replace outdated software, modernizing operations and improving truck turn times. In June, trucks calling at ITS averaged a 71-minute turn time—above the 62-minute average across the Long Beach-Los Angeles port complex. A reconfigured gate complex, along with the updated TOS, is expected to streamline access and help close that gap.
The project, scheduled for completion in about three and a half years, is also aligned with the port’s broader environmental goals. ITS is working toward electrifying all cargo-handling equipment by 2030, as part of the Los Angeles-Long Beach Clean Air Action Plan. Importantly, dockworkers will continue to operate the equipment even as the transition to zero-emissions technology progresses.
According to Kim Holtermand, CEO of ITS, the expansion will not only modernize the terminal’s tech infrastructure but also improve its overall operational footprint. Annual throughput is projected to rise to 1.5 million container moves, or 2.6 million TEUs.
Port of Long Beach COO Noel Hacegaba emphasized that the ITS upgrade is a prime example of how the port and its stakeholders are growing while staying committed to green initiatives. Complementing ITS’ efforts is the Pier B on-dock rail facility project, designed to reduce truck traffic by moving inland point intermodal (IPI) containers directly onto trains. Currently, only 27% of Long Beach’s IPI cargo moves via on-dock rail; the Pier B project aims to push that figure to 35% when completed in 2032.
