For Immediate Release
June 20, 2000
 Stevedoring
Services of America has signed a letter of intent for a new container
terminal now under construction at the Port of Oakland. Approved
today by Oakland's Board of Port Commissioners, the 150 acre facility
is scheduled to open in early 2002 and will have an annual capacity
of over 600,000 TEUs.
Jon Hemmingway, President of SSAT
hailed the new terminal as "crucial in serving the northern California
container market. This will be the largest and most capable terminal
at the Port of Oakland," he continued, "with the ability to serve
multiple ocean carriers with multiple deployments at one time."
"As a long-term tenant of the Port
of Oakland and a world-leader in terminal management and stevedoring,"
continued Hemmingway, "we are pleased to be given this opportunity
to help create what will become a showcase of container operations,
technology, and efficiency."
The new facility, located at Berths
57-58 in Oakland's middle harbor will feature 3,600 feet of continuous
berth dredged to a depth of -50' and up to six post-Panamax class
container cranes. The cranes are now under construction by ZPMC
of Shanghai, China, and with a 66 meter outreach will be the largest
and fastest container cranes in the world.
"This agreement between SSA Terminals
and the Port of Oakland is another important step in completing
our Vision 2000 programs and other improvement projects," stated
John Loh, President of Oakland's Board of Port Commissioners. "Over
the next six months we will complete improvements at the Union Pacific
Railyard, begin construction on the Joint Intermodal Terminal, and
open the new Hanjin Terminal at Berths 55-56. These projects will
ensure that Oakland maintains its stature as one of the premier
containerports in the world."
"Oakland achieved solid cargo growth
of 4.5% in 1999 and has experienced 4.8% cargo growth during the
first five months of this year," explained Chuck Foster, the Port
of Oakland's Executive Director. "New terminal construction provides
the capacity for Oakland to handle continuing growth in international
trade and to expand our participation in the intermodal market.
We are expending significant resources in developing our commercial
capabilities while at the same time providing public benefit and
improving the environment in northern California."
Contact:
Dan Westerlin
Manager Strategic Marketing
(510) 272-1353
marinemarketing@portoakland.com |
