• TPM24
  • March 3-6, 2024 | Long Beach Convention Center

Mario Cordero

Port of Long Beach

Executive Director

Mario Cordero, an international maritime industry leader, Long Beach resident, and attorney, is executive director of the Port of Long Beach, California, named to the post by the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners effective May 15, 2017. Beginning in 2003, Cordero served as a member, vice president, and president of the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners for eight years, before resigning to accept President Barack Obama’s appointment to the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) in 2011. He served on the FMC until May 2017 and was FMC Chairman from April 2013 to January 2017. As executive director, Cordero reports to the Board and leads the Port’s Harbor Department staff in excess of 500 with an annual budget of $775 million. Cordero has practiced law for more than 30 years, specializing in workers’ compensation cases. He holds a law degree from the University of Santa Clara, and a Bachelor of Science in political science from California State University, Long Beach. He taught political science at Long Beach City College, served on the City of Long Beach Community Development Commission, and was vice chair of the Long Beach Ethics Task Force.

Sessions With Mario Cordero

Tuesday, 28 February

  • 03:15pm - 04:00pm (PST) / 28/feb/2023 11:15 pm - 01/mar/2023 12:00 am

    How to Improve Container Flow Through Terminals
    If the pandemic experience taught us anything about supply chains, it's the urgency of maintaining container flow through ports and terminals. The logic is simple: Too many containers — loaded or empty — sitting on terminal grounds slows productivity at the berth and the gate. As data clearly showed, lower productivity results in ships remaining at berth for longer, forcing incoming ships — and all of their cargo — to wait at anchor. Transit times, lead times, and inventory-carrying costs all increase as a direct result, while shippers' revenue and responsiveness to customer demands go down. Many factors work against flow: empties not being removed quickly, excessive free time within service contracts, and shippers and truckers' slow transition to 24/7 operations, to mention but a few. Unprecedented pressure obviously was placed on the system beginning in late 2020, but future shocks are a certainty, and lessons need to be learned. This session will address what steps need to be taken to ensure consistent flow going forward. 
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