Terminal Operations: Oakland
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Port of Oakland Night Gates Will Stay Open after Subsidy Ends
The Port of Oakland’s largest marine terminal announced June 6 it would continue night operations even after a port subsidy expires later this month. What’s more, Oakland International Container Terminal (OICT) said it will offer full -- not partial -- operations at night.
The decision means thousands of harbor truckers can continue moving Oakland cargo outside busier daytime hours. With full operations, they will be able to drive off loaded import containers at night for the first time. Import pick-ups, the most time-consuming and labor-intensive terminal activity, had been restricted to dayside operations.
According to the port, OICT handles 67 percent of Oakland’s cargo.
"Thousands of cargo transactions have migrated to nighttime thanks to Oakland International Container Terminal," said Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll. "It’s imperative that we continue with extended hours to expand the workday and improve cargo flow."
The terminal said it will open night gates to harbor drivers Monday through Thursday. It introduced night gates two months ago, aided by a $1.5 million port subsidy program.
The terminal will assess a $30 flat-fee on all loaded import and export containers once the subsidy ends. The fee will finance the costs of night operations – principally for additional labor, the terminal said. The amount will remain constant regardless of the size of the container. It will be levied on both day and night container moves. The terminal will review the night-gate program – including fees – after 90 days.
"No one likes fees," said Mr. Driscoll. "But we think there’s tremendous value in easing daytime crowding and in offering full service at night when drivers can get in and out of port quickly."
The port said night gates are the most effective antidote to daytime terminal crowding caused by growing cargo volume. It added that expanded night operations might persuade motor carriers to eliminate surcharges assessed for waiting at terminals. Those fees are levied on cargo owners but could become outmoded if night gates continue to speed up operations.
The Port of Oakland’s largest marine terminal announced June 6 it would continue night operations even after a port subsidy expires later this month. What’s more, Oakland International Container Terminal (OICT) said it will offer full -- not partial -- operations at night.
The decision means thousands of harbor truckers can continue moving Oakland cargo outside busier daytime hours. With full operations, they will be able to drive off loaded import containers at night for the first time. Import pick-ups, the most time-consuming and labor-intensive terminal activity, had been restricted to dayside operations.
According to the port, OICT handles 67 percent of Oakland’s cargo.
"Thousands of cargo transactions have migrated to nighttime thanks to Oakland International Container Terminal," said Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll. "It’s imperative that we continue with extended hours to expand the workday and improve cargo flow."
The terminal said it will open night gates to harbor drivers Monday through Thursday. It introduced night gates two months ago, aided by a $1.5 million port subsidy program.
The terminal will assess a $30 flat-fee on all loaded import and export containers once the subsidy ends. The fee will finance the costs of night operations – principally for additional labor, the terminal said. The amount will remain constant regardless of the size of the container. It will be levied on both day and night container moves. The terminal will review the night-gate program – including fees – after 90 days.
"No one likes fees," said Mr. Driscoll. "But we think there’s tremendous value in easing daytime crowding and in offering full service at night when drivers can get in and out of port quickly."
The port said night gates are the most effective antidote to daytime terminal crowding caused by growing cargo volume. It added that expanded night operations might persuade motor carriers to eliminate surcharges assessed for waiting at terminals. Those fees are levied on cargo owners but could become outmoded if night gates continue to speed up operations.
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