NEW MEMBER PROFILE
P2S Engineering the future of Pacific ports
P orts today face increasing demands for modernization, sustainability, and operational efficiency. With these needs, engineer- ing expertise has become more critical than ever. Joining the Association of Pacific Ports is P2S LP, a California and Washington-based engineering firm that has spent more than 35 years designing the infrastructure that keeps ports operating while preparing them for the next generation of maritime transportation. Founded in 1991 in Long Beach, California, P2S has grown into a multi- disciplinary engineering company of approximately 350 professionals with offices throughout the West Coast, including Long Beach, Irvine, San Diego, Seattle, and the San Francisco Bay Area. While the company serves a wide range of industries, its Ports and Harbors Practice has established P2S as a recognized leader in electrical infrastructure, terminal design, and the electrification of port operations. Leading that practice is Managing Principal Greg Alexander, whose career has mirrored the industry’s evolution toward cleaner technologies. “My career has really progressed from emission reduction to emission elimination,” Alexander said. “Today, electrification is at the center of many of the projects we’re delivering.” P2S describes itself as an MEPT engineering firm, providing mechan- ical, electrical, plumbing, and technol- ogy design services. In addition, the company offers commissioning services to ensure systems operate as intended and construction management services that help projects move efficiently from design to completion. For ports, however, the firm’s greatest
strength lies in its ability to deliver the electrical infrastructure that supports modern terminal operations. “We’re often known for the equipment every- one can see — the charging stations or shore power systems — but what we’re really designing is the infrastructure behind all of it,” Alexander said. That infrastructure includes terminal power distribution, crane electrifica- tion, lighting systems, refrigerated con- tainer facilities, telecommunications, security systems, and increasingly, charging networks for battery-powered cargo-handling equipment and vessels. Among P2S’s most notable accom- plishments is its work at the Long Beach Container Terminal (LBCT), one of the most technologically advanced automated container termin- als in North America. The firm served as the electrical engineer of record for the terminal and recently completed designs for approximately 100 addi- tional charging stations as the facility continues its transition toward fully electric operations. P2S is also involved in shore power projects in Seattle and Tacoma, crane power upgrades at the Port of Oakland, terminal modernization projects throughout Southern California, and ferry electrification initiatives serving communities along the West Coast. While electrification receives much of the industry’s attention, Alexander emphasizes that reliable infrastructure remains the foundation of every suc- cessful port. “If the lights aren’t on, the cranes aren’t working, and the exit gates aren’t opening, then none of the rest matters,” he said. One area generating particular excitement is the electrification of fer- ries and harbor craft. Unlike large
Greg Alexander, Managing Principal, P2S
cargo vessels that have the luxury on long stretches of dock time for rechar- ging, ferries often have only a brief turnaround time to recharge before returning to service. Designing sys- tems capable of delivering significant amounts of power within minutes pre- sents new engineering challenges and opportunities. The technology itself is rapidly evolving. Early generations of electric cargo-handling equipment would be challenged to keep up with demanding port operations, but Alexander believes manufacturers have made significant progress. “The batteries are reaching the point where they can support the duty cycles required, and the vehicles themselves
16 — PACIFIC PORTS — July 2026
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