Southern California ports: New interim leader in L.A., October volume boost in Long Beach

Gary Lee Moore last week became the Port of Los Angeles' interim executive director to fill the post held by Geraldine Knatz, who retired in October after a nearly eight-year stint as executive director.

Moore has served as the Los Angeles city engineer for the past decade, overseeing an annual operating budget of $149 million and 400 active projects totaling $2.9 billion. He previously was general manager of Los Angeles' Bureau of Engineering, where he was responsible for public infrastructure network.

"Gary is a trusted public servant, with a 28-year track record with the city," said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti in a press release. "His leadership will be critical in our efforts to grow and maximize the port's economic impact while minimizing environmental concerns in harbor-area neighborhoods and the entire Los Angeles region."

Moore's first order of business will be a trip to Japan, where he will meet with Japanese customers and port officials, Port of Los Angeles officials said.

Port officials also reported that total October volume dipped 4.8 percent on a year-over-year basis to 684,207 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs). Imports dropped 5.1 percent to 346,138 TEUs, exports fell 5.7 percent to 169,568 TEUs, total loaded container volume decreased 5.3 percent to 515,706 TEUs and empty container volume declined 3 percent to 168,501 TEUs.

The Port of Long Beach, Calif., reported that October volume climbed 8.7 percent to 576,502 TEUs as its annual three-month peak season for imports drew to a close. Imports rose 7.8 percent to 298,271 TEUs, exports increased 6 percent to 141,457 TEUs and empties jumped 13.9 percent to 136,774 TEUs.

Total volume from August through October was up 14.4 percent versus the same 2012 period as U.S retailers stocked shelves ahead of the holiday shopping season, Long Beach port officials said in a traffic summary.