The Long Beach Harbor Commissioners have changed a five-month-old incentive plan in hopes of increasing the volume of rail cargo through the Port of Long Beach.

The incentive program gives ocean carriers $20 for each additional 20-foot inter-modal container shipped through the port “over and above the baseline year.” Inter-modal containers can move directly from ships to railroad cars.

The change in the plan realigns the baseline year to accurately reflect the recession’s start. This will allow more ocean shippers to qualify for the incentive.

“The earlier version of the incentive measure for ocean carriers had not attracted participation,” said a statement from the port. “This (inter-modal) cargo is important for the port because it represents business that could be shifted to other ports at a shipper’s discretion.”

Another incentive plan aimed at port terminal operators has not been modified because it was working fine, the port said.

“It’s important that our customers know that we are responding to the current economic downturn and that we understand their concerns,” Alex Cherin, the port’s managing director for trade relations, said in a statement. “These changes will encourage shippers to keep coming to Long Beach.”