2:10pm | Port of Long Beach executive director Richard Steinke delivered his annual State of the Port address today and looked to a sustainable future after a difficult 2009.

“We are creating the Port of the future,” Steinke said, referring to various infrastructure improvement and environmental measures that the Port will pursue. Some of those projects include the recently-approved Middle Harbor expansion development and the continuing process of updating the Gerald Desmond Bridge. Steinke also pointed to the environmental successes of the Clean Trucks Program and electrical charges for docked container ships.

Of course, the past year was not a kind one to the Port due to the effects of the recession and dwindling trade. The Port saw a 22% drop in container cargo volume and a 33% decline in 20-foot containers (TEUs) since its peak in 2007. Steinke noted that the end of 2009 saw improvement and predicted slow growth along the lines of 3-4% per month during 2010.

“I believe that the rebound has started and the worst is behind us,” he said.

More to come…