The Long Beach Board of Harbour Commissioners has voted unanimously to appeal against a ruling which prevents it from converting the city's former naval station into a container terminal for the China Ocean Shipping Co (Cosco).
A lawsuit which is seeking to preserve historic buildings at the site has scuttled the Long Beach plans.
The Los Angeles County Superior Court ruled that while the commissioners' environmental impact report for the project was adequate, the board had shown it was committed to the scheme before the study was even carried out.
The board said the Cosco lease was not approved until months after the report was certified.
Commissioners believe the best way of putting the project back on track is to seek an order from a court of appeal to overturn the ruling.
