NORTH AMERICA: INTERVIEW Growth and (re)development The Port of LA’s Christopher Chase discusses with Laura Hyde how the increase in cruise activity is driving plans to upgrade facilities at the West Coast port The Port of Los Angeles has experienced a rise in cruise activity in recent years, with recordbreaking numbers of cruise passengers (1.4 million) predicted for 2025, surpassing the previous high set in 2023. “Each cruise call generates over $1.2 million in local economic activity in the San Pedro area,” says Christopher Chase, assistant director of marketing at the Port of LA. “Jobs are at the centre of this, with shoreside jobs and longshore jobs benefiting from the additional business. The West Coast is a historic cruise market that is poised to grow again, as it did in the early days of cruising.” The port has also been undergoing a period of growth, with the ongoing reactivation of its LA Waterfront – and the long-anticipated opening of West Harbor – a mile-long waterfront development – in 2026, as well as an all-new Outer Harbor Cruise Terminal, which is expected to be completed by 2030. “We are currently negotiating with the developer to create a new cruise facility that will allow the port to expand cruising opportunities,” says Chase. “Shore power will be at the centre of the new facility as all cruise ships are required by California’s 2020 At Berth Regulation to switch off and plug in. Other details and technologies to build the most advanced sustainable cruise terminal are part of the negotiations with the developer and will be identified over the next few years as part of the environmental permitting process. We are also renovating the existing World Cruise Center to handle more passengers and add non-cruise uses, such as filming and event hosting during non-ship days.” The Summer Olympics will be held in LA in 2028, with the Port of LA hosting six of the sailing events. “As the events are planned today, there will be no negative impact to our cruise guests,” explains Chase. “We are most excited for those guests who come for a cruise and arrive early or stay after their cruise to experience the Olympics. The redevelopment of the port’s LA Waterfront into a vibrant tourism destination will be a long-term benefit for us, and for the city of Los Angeles. It gives us the opportunity to support the local economy with new ships, new cruise lines and new waterfront developments, making this area a top location in the cruise world.” “Each cruise call generates over $1.2 million in local economic activity in the San Pedro area” 96
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