Oakland, CA, USA 03-18-10 Three new super post-Panamax container cranes sailed smoothly under both the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges Tuesday, March 16, 2010 as they headed for the Port of Oakland. One of the Port of Oakland’s maritime tenants, Evergreen Marine Corporation, had the three super post-Panamax cranes designed and built for the Ben E. Nutter terminal at the Port of Oakland. The cranes arrived safely after a month long voyage aboard the "Zhen Hua 15" from Shanghai, China, where the cranes were built by the Zhen Hua Port Machinery Company (ZPMC).

Port of Oakland Executive Director Omar Benjamin said, “These new cranes are symbolic of a brighter future for our economy. Our customer, Evergreen, is affirming Oakland as a global gateway by making this multi-million dollar investment during these challenging times.” Benjamin added, “We have deepened the Port of Oakland harbor to -50 feet to accommodate the larger containerships and now with the addition of these new cranes, we have 22 state-of-the-art cranes which can handle the newer vessels. All of this helps position the port for more business and job growth for the future.”

The cranes sailed under the Golden Gate bridge with 14 feet of clearance and under the Bay Bridge with 9 feet of clearance. Evergreen’s shipping agent, following consultation with the US Coast Guard, ZPMC, the San Francisco Bar Pilots, CalTrans and the California Highway Patrol, determined the arrival time based on the tides and other factors to maximize safety and minimize traffic impact. Before the “Zhen Hua 15” could enter the bay, the crew of the vessel had to lower the apex structure of the cranes so they could “fit” under the bridges. The full height of each crane at the apex is 253 feet or the equivalent of a 25-story building. The crew successfully lowered the apexes and they sailed the vessel under the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges safely and with sufficient clearance. The boom outreach is 210 feet meaning the boom can span the width of a ship 24 containers wide.

About the Port of Oakland: The Port of Oakland oversees the Oakland seaport, Oakland International Airport and 20 miles of waterfront. The Oakland seaport is the fifth busiest container port in the U.S.; Oakland International Airport is the second largest San Francisco Bay Area airport, offering over 140 daily flights; and the Port’s real estate includes commercial developments such as Jack London Square and hundreds of acres of public parks and conservation areas. The Port of Oakland was established in 1927 and is an independent department of the City of Oakland. Please visit: www.portofoakland.com.

Media Contacts:

Port of Oakland
Marilyn Sandifur, Port Spokesperson
Media & Public Relations Department
(510) 627-1193
msandifur@portoakland.com
or
Robert Bernado (510) 627-1401
rbernardo@portoakland.com