Established 1962
The Port of San Diego was created by the California State Legislature to manage San Diego Bay and surrounding waterfront land on December 18, 1962.
The Port of San Diego is the fourth largest of the 11 ports in California. It has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in public improvements in its five member cities – Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach, National City and San Diego.
The Port oversees two maritime cargo terminals, two cruise ship terminals, 23 public parks, the Harbor Police Department and the leases of hundreds of tenant and subtenant businesses around San Diego Bay. These include 17 hotels, 74 restaurants, three specialty retail centers and numerous other attractions including museums and bay tours.
Historical Port of San Diego Highlights
Cabrillo sails into San Diego Bay
San Diego Harbor Commission and Harbor Department established
Filling of Shelter Island completed
Harbor Island shaped from dredged materials
San Diego Unified Port District created
Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal bulk loading facility completed
Cargo handling begins at National City Marine Terminal
First Port cruise ship call out of San Diego
North and South Embarcadero Marina Parks created
Chula Vista Bayside Park dedicated
B Street Pier Cruise Ship Terminal dedicated
San Diego Convention Center opens
- Imperial Beach tidelands transferred to the Port
- National City Marine Terminal receives first vehicle imports
Coronado Ferry Landing Marketplace opens
Port expands San Diego Airport Terminal 2
National City Historic Railcar Plaza unveiled
- San Diego Convention Center expansion celebrated
- Pasha Automotive Services processes one millionth vehicle
Pier 32 Marina opens in National City
- Port of San Diego marks 50-year anniversary
- Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan approved
- Port initiates comprehensive Port Master Plan Update process
- The Headquarters opens in former San Diego Police Headquarters
North Embarcadero Visionary Plan Phase 1 opens
- Port issues public solicitations for redevelopment of Central Embarcadero
- SpringHill Suites & Residence Inn San Diego Downtown/Bayfront opens on Lane Field site, the Port's 17th hotel
- Vice President Joe Biden makes historic visit to Port, delivering speech to audience of 400 at Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal
- Work begins on Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal Modernization
- Shelter Island Boat Launch Ramp renovation completed
- InterContinental San Diego opens on Lane Field on the North Embarcadero
- Port and San Diego Symphony celebrate start of construction for Bayside Performance Park, also known as The Shell, in Embarcadero Marina Park South
- As part of the Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan, Port and City of Chula Vista celebrate start of construction on the Sun Outdoors RV resort and Sweetwater Bicycle Path & Promenade
- Port celebrates completion of Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal Modernization
- Port and The Brigantine, Inc. celebrate opening of Portside Pier on the North Embarcadero
- Port and San Diego Symphony celebrate the grand opening of the Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, a state-of-the-art concert venue and "park within a park" in the Port's Embarcadero Marina Park South.
- Port, City of Chula Vista, RIDA Chula Vista, Inc., and Marriott Hotels celebrate start of construction for the $1.35 billion Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center on the Chula Vista Bayfront. The project is anticipated to be completed by summer 2022
- Port purchases all-electric dual mobile harbor cranes, first in North America
- Port and U.S. Navy sign first-of-its kind agreement that gives the U.S. Navy access to participate in California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) market; will generate millions for electrification projects around San Diego Bay
- Port completes shore power expansion at cruise ship terminals, two cruise vessels plug in for first time.
- Port celebrates arrival of first all-electric mobile harbor cranes in North America.
- Port of San Diego and USS Midway Museum break ground on Freedom Park at Navy Pier. Freedom Park will be the West Coast's largest veterans park.
- Port of San Diego and Crowley christen the first electric tug, the eWolf, in the U.S.
- Port of San Diego opens Sweetwater Park, a 39-acre recreational open space on the Chula Vista Bayfront.