Port of Oakland lifting four giant cranes 26 feet higher

Press Release

For Immediate Release
November 30, 2015

Port of Oakland lifting four giant cranes 26 feet higher

$13.95 million project allows more megaships to call

Oakland, CA – November 30, 2015: Global trade is about to get a big lift from the Port of Oakland. The Port said today it’s raising four massive gantry cranes 26 feet higher to span modern megaships. The $13.95 million project, scheduled to begin in April, will increase Oakland’s capacity to handle giant container vessels.

“The big ships come here on a regular basis,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll. “This equips us to take on more of them as shipping lines continue to scale up.”

The taller cranes, located at Oakland International Container Terminal, will be able to reach 141 feet above the dock. They’ll have the height to load and unload ships with capacity up to 14,000 20-foot containers. Those are the biggest vessels calling in the U.S.

The four 13-year-old cranes each weigh 1,380 tons. They’ll be supported by jacking frames while their legs are cut away and replaced with new, longer ones. The legs will be fabricated by Shanghai-based ZPMC, manufacturer of the cranes. The Port said it will take 10-to-12 weeks to lift each crane.

The Port’s cranes can lift as much as 65 tons of containerized cargo. Once they’re heightened, they’ll be able to reach three rows of containers higher on a ship.

There are 33 cranes at the Port’s five marine terminals. Eight of them are tall enough to reach atop the biggest ships in Oakland. The Port said it’s lifting additional cranes with an eye toward the future of global trade. More ocean carriers are building big ships, the Port said, to gain economies of scale in transporting containerized cargo.

About the Port of Oakland
The Port of Oakland oversees the Oakland seaport, Oakland International Airport, and 20 miles of waterfront. Together with its business partners, the Port supports more than 73,000 jobs in the region and nearly 827,000 jobs across the United States. Connect with the Port of Oakland and Oakland International Airport through Facebook, or with the Port on Twitter, YouTube, and at www.portofoakland.com.

Contact:

Robert Bernardo,
Communications Manager
Port of Oakland
(510) 627-1401

Marilyn Sandifur,
Port Spokesperson
Port of Oakland
(510) 627-1193

Not sure who to contact or have a general question? Use our contact form to route your request