The Oxnard Harbor District has completed an aggressive port expansion program made possible by the 1997 acquisition of former Navy property immediately adjacent to the Commercial Port.

The Port of Hueneme Terminal and Multimodal Expansion program on property declared surplus by the Navy and completed in 1999, greatly enhanced the Port's ability to handle refrigerated containers and roll-on/roll-off cargoes. The converted property to this new terminal complex was once the Naval Civil Engineering Laboratory. In 1993 the Navy designated the NCEL ‘surplus property and under that decision, the functions of the laboratory were transferred to the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Port Hueneme and relocated to a better location within Navy Base Ventura County.

Immediately, the Harbor District notified the federal government of its interest in acquiring the property under a federal law providing for no-cost acquisition of military facilities by port authorities due to their ability to contribute to the national economy.

The leading international transportation planning firm of Vickerman, Zachary and Miller subsequently created a conceptual plan for the property outlining the design necessary for the long-term ability of the Port to attract new customers. The conceptual design was further enhanced and refined by the engineering firm of CH2M Hill.

The Southern Terminal - East Expansion Project is a continuation of development of property formerly known as the "Sunkist Site". This project was completed in July 2003.