Photo courtesy of POLB.

Get up and close to big ships and local marine life this summer as the Port of Long Beach announced today that sign-ups for its free harbor tour series will be open starting next Monday.

Register online anytime from 8:00AM to 8:00PM on Monday, April 2 for a tour of the port in May. Officials said the port uses a lottery system for its 90-minute, behind-the-scenes, narrated tours that take place May through September each year.

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“On the first Monday of each month, the online reservation system provides a 12-hour window to register via computer or mobile device for one of the four harbor tours available in the next month,” officials said. “A random drawing will select participants for each tour and within five business days you will receive confirmation of your reservation, or notification that you are on a waiting list.”

Tours take place the first and third Saturdays of each month at 10:00AM and the second and fourth Thursdays at 7:00PM. Click here for more information or to make reservations.

Stephanie Rivera is the community engagement editor. Reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter at @StephRivera88.