Part of King Harbor Marina, in Redondo Beach, will shut down over the weekend to allow Northrop Grumman to move a large object onto a barge.

The closure will comprise about 70 parking spots, alongside Moonstone Park on the western-most part of Marina Way, and will last from 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18, to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20.

The aerospace company will move a large piece of equipment — described as a U.S. Navy demonstration project — from Northrop headquarters, in North Redondo, to San Diego. At a City Council meeting this week, Northrop officials declined to provide details about what or how big the object is, citing national security concerns.

Seen for the first time late Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, and ready for transport in Redondo Beach is a secret payload from Northrop Grumman that is being taken to King Harbor Marina, where it will be lifted onto a barge on the way to its next destination. (Photo by Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily Breeze/SCNG)

Seen for the first time late Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, and ready for transport in Redondo Beach is a secret payload from Northrop Grumman that is being taken to King Harbor Marina, where it will be lifted onto a barge on the way to its next destination. (Photo by Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily Breeze/SCNG)

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Seen for the first time late Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, and ready for transport in Redondo Beach is a secret payload from Northrop Grumman that is being taken to King Harbor Marina, where it will be lifted onto a barge on the way to its next destination. (Photo by Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily Breeze/SCNG)

Crews in Redondo Beach’s King Harbor Marina on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, are getting ready to move Northrop Grumman’s secret, large object later in the evening. (Photo by David Rosenfeld/Daily Breeze)

This massive barge seen Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, in King Harbor Marina takes up nearly the entire channel, so boats have to be careful navigating around it. Northrop’s large, secret payload is expected to be moved onto the barge after midnight. (Photo by David Rosenfeld/Daily Breeze)



This massive barge seen Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, in King Harbor Marina takes up nearly the entire channel, so boats have to be careful navigating around it. Northrop’s large, secret payload is expected to be moved onto the barge after midnight. (Photo by David Rosenfeld/Daily Breeze)

A representative for Northrop did not respond to questions this week.

The company agreed on Tuesday, Oct. 15, to pay the city $25,000 for a licensing agreement to use the marina; it also agreed to pay any costs incurred by the city in terms of staff time or property damage related to the operation.

“We tried to minimize the impacts of the logistics and transportation so that activities of those who work and live in Redondo Beach are not affected,” Northrop spokesman Joe Ahn told the City Council in early October. “We want to make sure that whatever expenses the city might incur are accounted for as well.”

Redondo Beach fast-tracked the permitting process, at the request of Northrop, which brought the operation to city staff’s attention on Sept. 26, according to Stephen Proud, the city’s Waterfront and Economic Development director.

The actual moving by Northrop will take place in the late-night to early-morning hours on Friday and Saturday, Proud told the council earlier this month. Equipment will be transported first by semi-truck down to the marina and then loaded by ramp onto a barge. Boating activity should not be affected.

Councilman Nils Nehrenhein, who pushed for the licensing fee even though staff did not recommend it, said during this week’s council meeting that he wanted to see the $25,000 go toward a new white sea bass grow-out project. After more than 20 years in the marina, the grow-out — one of roughly a dozen in Southern California administered by Hubbs-Seaworld Research Institute and supported by volunteers — needs funding and a new place to house the pens that grow thousands of baby fish.

Others on the council supported this idea, but City Attorney Mike Webb said any appropriation would need to be made during the next budget cycle.