The Port of Los Angeles (POLA) is a primary gateway for international commerce. As North America’s leading port by cargo value and container volume, it moves billions of dollars of cargo each year.

Located in San Pedro Bay, 20 miles south of downtown Los Angeles, the port encompasses 7,500 acres with 43 miles of waterfront containing 25 passenger and cargo terminals. The main channel depth of 53 feet enables the port to routinely accommodate the largest container ships in the trans-Pacific trade.

A 10-year, $2.6 billion infrastructure improvement program is under way to ensure the port continues to offer state-of-the-art services.
Neubauer Electric Inc., Los Alamitos, Calif., has been involved in three major projects at POLA.

The POLA Berths 136–139 projects were the redevelopment of an existing terminal to process the containers in and out at a faster rate, said Fred Neubauer, president, Neubauer Electric.

“With the new Panama Canal able to accept larger ships, the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach want to get containers to the East Coast faster than going around through the canal,” Neubauer said. “The Berths 136–139 projects required multiple electrical infrastructure and service installations including a new administration building, new yard operations building, new drivers’ services building, new identification gate canopy, and new high-mast LED lighting poles.”

The old administration building housed the current network for the site. These systems had to be relocated to the new building with a very short break in service because of ongoing terminal activities. Neubauer Electric crews also added high-mast LED lighting, solar lighting, solar power, a new fire alarm system, new duct banks and vaults, and low-voltage systems for all new buildings.

Construction was complicated because all of the work was in an existing terminal that had to remain in operation throughout the project.

“The work was split into phases,” Neubauer said. “And the requirement to keep power on affected everything we did. The only time power could be shut down was on a day when no ships were in port or during graveyard shifts when there was no incoming or outgoing freight.”
To expedite construction, conduit for the large duct banks was prefabricated.

“This allowed us not to have to shore long runs of duct bank,” he said. “This reduced the shoring and installation costs, thereby reducing labor costs.

“Our challenges included moving equipment in the terminal and the amount of underground work required without knowing what was underground,” Neubauer said. “The terminal has been there for years, and there were no up-to-date record drawings. For all the underground [work], our employees were trained in trench shoring, trench safety and requirements for working in confined space when working in the manholes. Also, the curved-seam roof of the administration building made access a challenge for installation of the solar [power] system.”

During the course of the project, Neubauer Electric personnel peaked at 25. There was no lost time due to accidents.

Other POLA projects

The EC also worked on the Berth 100 project, which was an addition to an existing pier and new back lands—areas behind piers where containers can be stored. Work included installation of conduit duct banks and vaults, new high-voltage outlets for ships to connect to shore power while in port and new high-mast LED lighting.

POLA Piers E, F and G were part of a larger $1 billion project at the Port of Long Beach for a new terminal. Neubauer Electric worked on the north gate and installed new conduit duct banks and vaults, new high-mast LED lighting, and the construction for north gate scales and truck inspection station.

All three Neubauer Electric projects are now complete.

About Neubauer Electric

Established in 1994 by Fred Neubauer, a former union electrician, Neubauer Electric is a privately owned company serving Southern California. The company provides complete electrical services for new construction, existing building modifications and special projects.

In addition to the POLA work, other recent industrial projects include the Santa Monica College Core Performance Center and central plant, Cain Library at Cal State University Dominguez Hills, work at the Long Beach Airport, Fremont High School in Los Angeles, Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach, Calif., and the Westminster (Calif.) Police Training Facility and Corporate Yard.

Neubauer Electric employs new technologies, enabling buildings to be built virtually. As such, coordination issues and trade clashes can be worked out before ever breaking ground. This pre-emptive approach enables all parties to see issues ahead of time and act accordingly to alleviate monetary and scheduling concerns.