Officials halted cargo movement at one of the Port of Long Beach’s six terminals after crews unearthed an old explosive device during construction Wednesday morning, authorities said.
The device, which authorities said appeared to be a World War II-era shell, was discovered at Pier G, near the southern edge of the Port complex, where crews had been digging.
The terminal was evacuated, and a bomb squad and a U.S. Marine Corps ordnance disposal team were called to the scene, according to a statement from Lee Peterson, spokesman for the Port.
After deciding it was safe to transport, the Marine Corps team moved the explosive off-site, Peterson said. The terminal resumed normal operations by Wednesday night.
The Port complex formerly housed a major U.S. Navy base, home to several battleships and support ships, two aircraft carriers and a large Naval landing. The base operated here from 1919 to 1997.
When it closed, the Port of Long Beach acquired the land and developed it into one of the world’s largest complexes of container terminals.
