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Cargo Operations: Oakland

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Ultra Large Container Ships Now Regular Callers at the Port of Oakland 

Ultra-large container ships 1,200 feet long with capacity of 10,000 TEUs are now routinely calling the Port of Oakland – 16 in the past 30 days, including the 13,062-TEU MSC Regulus and the 13,092-TEU CMA CGM Margrit. The first was the 12,552-TEU MSC Fabiola in March 2012. The largest to date was the 13,800-TEU MSC Beatrice in 2013.  

"We have prepared for these ships, and they’re here to stay," said Maritime Director John Driscoll. "It’s gratifying to see our planning and advance work pay off." These preparations included dredging approaches and berths to 50-foot depths and raising crane heights to reach over the containers stacked above vessel decks. The port also notes its continuing effort to refine marine terminal operations to improve landside cargo-handling speed.

The port expects vessels in the 6,400 to 8,500 TEU range will remain the norm in Oakland, but the number of larger ships is growing and will test the marine terminals vessel loading and unloading capabilities.

According to recent port data, big ships spend 40-to-45 hours in Oakland discharging or loading cargo. Smaller ships usually depart in 35-to-39 hours. The port says that forthcoming improvements designed to accelerate landside operations could help shorten berth time for larger ships.These include weekend gates and after-hour off-dock locations for cargo pick-up or delivery. 

"The New Class of Big Ships" is  the focus of a newly released Port of Oakland video.

Ultra large container ships at the Matson Terminal in Oakland’s Inner Harbor.
Photo/Port of Oakland
 

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