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Gateway at a Glance: Northern California By Joe Zelasney Marine transportation in Northern California iscentered on the San Francisco Bay one of the world’s greatest natural harbors. San Francisco Bay ports constitute one of the three principal gateways on the U.S. West Coast, along with San Pedro Bay in Southern California and the Puget Sound in the Pacific Northwest. Area ports serve the 8 million residents of the Bay Area, as well as markets across the continent. The region’s major ports include the Port of Oakland, Port of San Francisco, Port of Redwood City and the Port of Richmond. The inland river ports of Stockton and West Sacramento help to round out Northern California’s marine transportation portfolio. Port of Oakland Located on the mainland shore of San Francisco Bay, the Port of Oakland is the nation’s fourth largest container port and ranks among the top 20 global container ports in terms of annual container throughput. The port loads and discharges more than 99 percent of the containerized goods moving through Northern California. In 2008, 2.24 million containers moved through the port. Oakland was among the first ports to specialize in intermodal container operations. Today, ten container terminals and two intermodal rail facilities serve the Oakland waterfront. The port boasts 20 deepwater berths and 35 container cranes, 29 of which are Post-Panamax size. Since 1962, the port has spent more than $1.4 billion to construct 1,210 acres of marine terminals and intermodal rail facilities. This figure includes over $700 million being spent on the current Vision 2000 program, which includes the development of two new maritime terminals, a new intermodal rail facility, and the recently completed channel-deepening project, which increased depth at the port from 42 to 50 feet. When completed, the projects will more than double container capacity at the port. As part of the Vision 2000 program, the port acquired 530 acres of a former military base located adjacent to port property. These lands will be used as the Port undergoes its largest expansion since the 1970s. Four new ship berths will provide 5,400 feet of berthing area and a new 250-acre marine terminal will increase container handling capacity at the port. Adjacent to the new marine terminal, the 150-acre Joint Intermodal Rail Terminal will provide direct mainline access for the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroads. The rail terminal will have eight permanent tracks and adequate container storage space for efficient cargo loading. Port of Richmond The Port of Richmond is located approximately nine miles northeast of the Golden Gate Bridge on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay. The port encompasses five city-owned terminals and ten privately owned terminals for handling bulk liquids, dry bulk materials, metals, vehicles and break-bulk cargoes. In terms of total tonnage The Port of Richmond is one of the largest ports in the United States and it is Northern California’s most diversified cargo handler. In 2008, the port handled 19 million short tons of cargo, primarily in the form of liquid petroleum. In recent years, the port has expanded its dry bulk, break-bulk, and containerized cargo handling capabilities and has increased its automobile processing facilities. Today, Richmond ranks number one in liquid bulk and automobile tonnage among ports on San Francisco Bay and is the third-largest port in California in terms of total tonnage. The port’s access channel, the Richmond Harbor Channel, was recently deepened from 35 to 38 feet. Port of San Francisco The Port of San Francisco is responsible for managing the seven and one-half miles of San Francisco Bay shoreline stretching from Hyde Street Pier in the north to India Basin in the south. More than 1,000 acres fall under its jurisdiction. The port’s operating portfolio is composed of over 550 ground, commercial, retail, office, industrial and maritime industrial leases, including many internationally recognized landmarks such as Fisherman’s Wharf, PIER 39, the Ferry Building, and AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants baseball team. Port of Redwood City The Port of Redwood City, located 18 nautical miles south of San Francisco, is the only deepwater port in southern San Francisco Bay. Strategically located between San Francisco and the rapidly growing Silicon Valley region, the Port is accessed via the Redwood City channel, which is maintained at 30 feet. The Port of Redwood City specializes in bulk, neo-bulk and liquid cargoes and provides inland transportation access via U.S. Highway 101 and Union Pacific Railroad. Inland River PortsNorthern California’s inland river ports include the Port of Stockton and the Port of West Sacramento. The ports have long been gateways for agriculture exports and imports in Northern California’s vast central valley. Today the ports are working to broaden their cargo-handling base by developing new import and export operations. Both ports are closely monitoring the U.S. Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) proposed Marine Highways Program. The program would provide federal support for a marine highway system capable of transporting containers between the two inland ports and the Port of Oakland, where container ships offer direct access to overseas markets. The proposed Marine Highway would relieve truck traffic congestion on freeways leading to the Port of Oakland. Preliminary feasibility studies for the program have recommended specially designed ferries to transport up to 350 chassis-mounted containers. Two tug/ferry combinations are being considered, one connecting Oakland-Stockton and the other Oakland-West Sacramento. Port of Stockton The Port of Stockton is located 75 nautical miles due east of the Golden Gate Bridge and is accessed via the San Joaquin River. It owns and operates a diverse array of transportation facilities on 2,000 acres. The port has berthing space for 17 vessels, 1.1 million square feet of dockside transit sheds, shipside rail trackage, and 7.7 million square feet of warehousing for both dry bulk and general cargoes, including steel. The Port of Stockton is located one mile from I-5, and served by two transcontinental railroads, BNSF and UP. The Stockton Ship Channel has an average depth of 37 feet at average low tide and an average depth at high tide of 40 feet. Vessels in the 45,000 to 55,000 ton class can use the channel fully loaded. There are no width restrictions for vessels on the channel, and ships up to 900 feet in length are able to navigate it. Port of West Sacramento The Port of West Sacramento is located 79 nautical miles northeast of San Francisco, and is centered in one of the richest agricultural and industrial regions in the nation. It is a landlord port; SSA Marine carries out cargo operations. The port boasts five 600-foot berths and currently handles almost one million metric tons per year. Approximately 70 percent of port cargoes consist of imports, while 30 percent are made up of exports of bulk and break-bulk cargoes. Typical cargoes include cement, wood pellets, steel coils and project cargoes. The port is located in close proximity to I-5 and I-80, and boasts railroad connections to both BNSF and UP. The Port of West Sacramento is accessed via the 30-foot deep Sacramento Ship Channel, which connects the Port to the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The 43-mile long ship channel will be dredged to a depth of 35 feet, with construction on the project expected to commence in 2010.	In This Issue Up Front News, Trends & Analysis New Items U.S. employment environment promotes import uncertainty Supply Chain How are you planning for the rebound? Trade compliance often has a broader scope Features Optimism characterizes inaugural Southeast Freight Conference Gateway at a glance: Northern California Ports & infrastructure Prince Rupert looks towards Memphis Canada tries to standardize port performance metrics Global players jockey over Arctic shipping routes Port Products Terminal management systems Commentary Roll up your sleeves for the next phase On the Horizon The Internet of 2020 Casualties
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Gateway at a Glance: Northern California