The Port of Los Angeles has unveiled plans for Pier 500, a new container terminal designed to handle the world's largest cargo ships. The project will span 200 acres and include two berths and 3,000 feet of wharf, reports New York's FreightWaves.

Located on the southern end of Terminal Island, Pier 500 will sit just south of Pier 400, LA's largest container terminal. The site includes 124 submerged acres of infrastructure added before Pier 400's completion in 2002.

The port said the new terminal will boost efficiency and accommodate next-generation vessels. The berth depth is 55 feet, with a channel depth of 53 feet - the deepest among US ports.

Executive Director Gene Seroka said the terminal will be the cleanest possible, enhancing sustainability and creating jobs. Los Angeles is seeking proposals for a pre-development agreement to assess financial feasibility and other requirements.

The port handled 10.3 million TEU in 2024, while neighbouring Long Beach moved 9.6 million. Together, they form the busiest container gateway in the US.

The MSC Isabella, with capacity of 23,000 TEU, was the largest ship to call Los Angeles in 2020. MSC's Irina, at 24,346 TEU, is currently the largest in the ultra-large class. Carriers operate 3-4 million TEU of mega-tonnage, with 1.3 million TEU on order.

Pier 500 joins only two other standalone terminal projects in development: Louisiana International Terminal in New Orleans and Sparrows Point in Baltimore.

The pre-development phase will include environmental assessments under state and federal law. The project is expected to take 10 years to complete. No cost estimates were disclosed.