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A major project is underway at the Port of Los Angeles (POLA) that proposes to create approximately 35 acres of land and water for a world-class marine research institute. Approximately 2,540 ft of existing wharves at Berths 57-60 will be upgraded in Phase 1. This is the oldest wharf built in San Pedro Bay and the existing wharf and the shed have been designated as “historic.” This designation requires preservation of the exterior appearance of the shed as well as a visible portion of the wharf located above water. Additionally, POLA is located in a highly seismic area and the proposed project allows public access, thereby requiring any upgrades to meet current building codes. Initial evaluations indicate significant improvements are needed to meet current seismic requirements in addition to repairs for the proposed project. This paper discusses the seismic, structural, and geotechnical aspects of the project and compares various upgrade alternatives considered for implementation.

The volume of maritime trade transferred by container is continuously increasing. Due to the scarcity of storage space, the need for higher container storage capacity, and the demands for faster and more efficient operations, container terminal operators are moving from conventional operations toward semi- and fully-automated operations. With this change, engineers are faced with new challenges when designing terminal infrastructure. The container storage area is the largest and one of the most important areas within an automated container terminal. Infrastructure design of this area is critical for operational efficiency of the terminal. Critical infrastructure design elements within the automated container stacking area include Automated Stacking Crane (ASC) rails, ASC rail foundations, container stacking support systems, and storm drainage systems. ASC rails can be supported by concrete beam on grade, concrete beam on piles, or by concrete ties on ballast. The choice of rail foundation depends on various factors such as the initial cost, maintenance costs, impacts to terminal operations due to maintenance activities, and other site-specific conditions. Critical infrastructure design elements within the automated container stacking area include ASC rails, ASC rail foundations, container stacking support systems, and storm drainage systems. This paper addresses design considerations for these elements. These considerations will be supported by design experience on several domestic and international projects.