Outer Harbour Terminal to close as operators give up on Oakland

Time:2016-01-22 Browse:67 Author:RISINGSUN
OUTER Harbour Terminal LLC plans to cease operations in Oakland and the joint operators will hand back the leased terminal to the port by the end of March. 

OHT is a joint venture between Ports America, the largest stevedore and terminal operating company in the US, and Terminal Investment Ltd (TIL), the stevedoring affiliate of Mediterranean Shipping Company. 

OHT said in a statement it "is developing a cooperative 60-day transition with the port of Oakland to wind down operations and return the leased terminal property to the port. 

During this transition, OHT intends to run business as usual and to service its customers and vessels for the next 30 days, reports IHS Media.

The joint decision to terminate the 50-year lease for the terminal in Oakland comes as Ports America intends to focus its investments in other US container ports to prepare for today`s mega ships, according to chief strategy officer Peter Ford. 

"We`ll be sorry to see them leave, but this can be a timely opportunity," said Oakland`s maritime director, John Driscoll. "We can explore diverse, new maritime uses for the property while we make the port more efficient." 

Ports America sees its future on the west coast in two gateways ?Los Angeles-Long Beach in the south and Seattle-Tacoma-Vancouver, British Columbia, in the Pacific Northwest. 

On the east coast, the company is investing in terminal upgrades, equipment and cranes in Port Newark Container Terminal and Seagirt in Baltimore to handle vessels up to 16,000 TEU.

Ports America also has a terminal in Miami that should attract new business following the completion of the Panama Canal expansion project, Mr Ford said.