Cargo Operations: Oakland, Tampa

Oakland: Port Will Keep Cargo Moving After Ports America Outer Harbor Terminal Closes

Port of Oakland officials promised to keep cargo moving efficiently after Ports America Outer Harbor terminal announced January 19 it will close in March. The port said vessels will be rerouted to adjacent terminals after the shutdown occurs. Port representatives assured shipping lines and cargo owners that planning is already underway to blunt the shutdown’s impact.

"We’re disappointed that Ports America is leaving," said Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll. "But we’re in advanced discussions with our maritime partners here to prevent disruption to the Oakland business."

Ports America Outer Harbor said it intends to terminate its 50-year lease in Oakland for business reasons.The company said it will continue with business as usual for 30 days, and then cease vessel and cargo-handling operations. The company said it will close down the terminal in 60 days.

The port expects Ports America to meet all of its lease obligations until the two sides agree on an orderly transition of the property. The port added that it has engaged in prolonged discussions with Ports America about the operator’s future in Oakland. It said the decision to terminate the lease was made unilaterally by Ports America.

The port said the departure of Ports America provides two significant opportunities:

1. Ships and cargo can be redirected to Oakland’s other marine terminals which have excess capacity

2. New, better uses can be found for Ports America Outer Harbor Terminal, including non-containerized cargo operations.

Outer Harbor is one of five marine terminals leased to private operators by the Port of Oakland. More than 2,000 ships, most from Asia, berth at the terminals each year. More than 2.0 million containers move annually through the port.

Port officials said their priority is minimizing customer impact and maintaining Oakland’s cargo volume. There is ample capacity to absorb Outer Harbor’s volume at other Oakland terminals, the port said. It added that terminal operators are preparing for the cargo migration. For example:

Oakland International Container Terminal has opened Saturday and occasional weeknight gates for two months.The extra hours enable harbor truckers to pick-up or drop-off cargo outside peak hours.

A port-wide Saturday-gate program is expected to launch in the first quarter of 2016.

"This port can handle the business," declared Port Executive Director Chris Lytle in his annual State of the Port speech. "We will do all in our power to prevent disruption to the movement of cargo. We’ve identified a new home for 90 percent of the cargo that must be relocated," he said. As for the remainder of the business: "There is a good solution for that cargo, and we’ll get there."

Port Tampa Bay Receives Large Industrial Equipment to Be Sold At Ritchie Bros.’ Orlando Auction

Port Tampa Bay earlier this month received the first of two huge shipments of heavy equipment, arriving from Chile and Peru, to be sold at an industrial equipment auction to be held next month by Ritchie Bros. next month in Orlando.

Most of the equipment selling at the multi-day auction will be stored at the company’s permanent site in Davenport (FL). Equipment that is non-EPA compliant and cannot be used in the United States will be stored in the port’s Foreign Trade Zone, sold by photo at Ritchie Bros.’ auction and likely re-exported by the new owner to Latin America or elsewhere overseas.

Discharging equipment destined for sale at an Orlando area auction.

Photo/Port Tampa Bay

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