The Port of Oakland has received approximately $50 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD) to modernise wharves and terminal infrastructure at the Outer Harbor.
The project encompasses a range of key upgrades, including wharf strengthening, structural repairs, and the replacement of container crane rails. It also involves the addition of support piles, the reinforcement of support beams, and the replacement of the electrical bus bar system to accommodate larger ship-to-shore cranes.
The Port’s Outer Harbor will be upgraded to accommodate Ultra Large Container Vessels, which are now a regular part of the shipping fleet calling on West Coast ports. These ships have a handling capacity of up to 24,000 TEU but are restricted at portions of Oakland’s Outer Harbor by ageing wharves which were originally designed for smaller ships.
Newer, larger vessels are more efficient, cost-effective and environmentally cleaner to operate than older ships. The federal grant supports the port’s multi-year effort to modernise and upgrade its infrastructure and will complement its transition to zero-emissions operations.
The total cost of the project to improve the Outer Harbor wharf is estimated to be $66 million. Once completed, the infrastructure improvements will ensure long-term efficiency, productivity, and flexibility of port operations, reported the Port of Oakland.
“We are grateful to Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Senator Alex Padilla, and the Bay Area congressional delegation for their support for this MARAD grant,” said Port of Oakland Executive Director Danny Wan.
“This federal funding will help us improve infrastructure that will make the Oakland Seaport a cleaner, safer, and more efficient international gateway for moving imports and exports.”
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“We thank the U.S. Maritime Administration for this funding that will assist to modernise our Outer Harbor wharf to better accommodate the safe and efficient movement of ultra-large ships that call Oakland,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director Bryan Brandes.
“It is essential that we upgrade infrastructure because the Oakland Seaport is a critical artery for commerce in Northern California.”