The Port of Long Beach (POLB) announced Thursday that it has been recognized as the Best North American Seaport at the Asian Freight, Logistics and Supply Chain Awards, which were hosted this week in Shanghai by the shipping trade publication Asia Cargo News, according to the release.

The POLB bested fellow finalists the ports of Seattle, Houston and New York/New Jersey. Ports were judged on service quality, innovation, customer relations and reliability, among other factors, according to the release.

This is the second year in a row and the 18th time in the last 21 years that the port has won the title “Best North American Seaport” from Asia Cargo News and last year’s event organizer, CargoNews Asia.

“This award speaks volumes about the satisfaction our customers have with our Port,” stated Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners President Lori Ann Guzmán. “We’re always working hard to improve our services, and we’re pleased to be recognized for our efforts.”

“We are pleased to have the validation of key stakeholders in our industry, especially over the past two years when our Port business has been so dynamic,” said POLB CEO Jon Slangerup in a statement. “We thank our customers for supporting us and recognizing the dedication the Port staff has in making sure we provide excellent service, top value and efficient delivery of their cargo to their markets.”

More than 15,000 industry professionals who read Asia Cargo News were invited to participate in the nomination and selection process preceding the awards ceremony that took place Tuesday, June 14. Awards were also given in other categories, such as shipping lines, container terminals, air cargo carriers and road haulers, according to the announcement.

The Port of Long Beach is one of the world’s premier seaports, handling $180 billion in trade annually and supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs in Southern California.