Port of LA and Nagoya Port Authority sigh new cooperative agreement

Building on more than 60 years of collaboration, the Port of Los Angeles and Port Authority of Nagoya, Japan  have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to further cooperate and exchange information on projects focused on operational efficiency and environmental sustainability.

Gene Seroka, Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles, said:

“International cooperation among ports is essential to assuring that our global supply chain and ports of entry are the most efficient and environmentally sustainable as possible. Furthering our collaboration on these priorities with the Port of Nagoya is a natural next step, given our long-term sister port relationship and mutual interest in advancing port innovations and technology.”

Hideaki Ohmura, President, Nagoya Port Authority and Governor of Aichi Prefecture, said:

“The Port of Los Angeles is undertaking visionary projects such as the development of the Port Optimizer and testing near-zero and zero-emissions heavy duty trucks. This agreement will increase our collaboration and bring further developments in efficiencies and environmental sustainability.”

Expanding on the two ports’ strong relationship, the newly signed MOU outlines more formal cooperation and exchange of information on port community systems and end-to-end supply chain information sharing platforms; development and deployment of zero-emission vehicles and equipment; and other activities connecting science, industry and start-ups that could contribute to both ports’ efficiency and environmental priorities.

Operational efficiency projects of interest under the MOU include the development of port community systems like the Port Optimizer, the digital data platform used at the Port of Los Angeles to improve systems efficiency and supply chain information sharing. Also of interest will be the Port of Nagoya’s centralized terminal operation system and centralized queuing gate process, both of which have helped make the port one of the most productive and efficient in Japan.

Environmental sustainability projects highlighted in the MOU include Nagoya’s innovative incentive system for LNG-fueled and LNG-bunkering vessels, and the Port of Los Angeles’ current demonstration project with Toyota Motor North America that is testing hydrogen fuel-cell electric heavy-duty drayage trucks and container handling equipment.

The Los Angeles and Nagoya Sister City Affiliation began as a part of President Eisenhower’s Citizens’ International Exchange Program in 1959. The primary goal of the sister city program is to foster mutual understanding between the people of Los Angeles and Nagoya through cultural, educational and people-to-people exchange activities. Over the decades, the two ports relationship has been celebrated by numerous visits, exchange programs and meetings.