In her State of the Port of Oakland speech, Port of Oakland Executive Director Kristi McKenney said her top priority in 2026 is negotiating new lease agreements with the Port’s three largest terminals.

The three terminals are Oakland International Container Terminal, TraPac, and Everport: “We have three primary terminal operators. And right now, my number one priority is working in partnership with those terminal operators to get three new long-term leases in Oakland. So, that’s going to be the focus. As this year comes to a close, we’re going to have new leases with these terminal operators that bring massive investments to Oakland.”

New Cranes at TraPac

McKenney explained: “We already have investments coming to Oakland. Pretty soon, you’re going to see two new 440-foot cranes, raised above the TraPac terminal. I am very excited to see that, and these are the first European-built cranes on the West Coast. A few months from now, two more cranes are going to come and be erected.”

In January, the Port of Oakland welcomed two new container cranes at its TraPac terminal, marking the first time European-built ship-to-shore cranes have been deployed on the US West Coast. The new Liebherr cranes, “manufactured in Ireland, will make that work faster and more energy-efficient, helping the Port operate more smoothly while reducing environmental impacts. Once operational, the cranes will stand more than 440 feet tall—about the height of a 40-to-45-story building—allowing TraPac to handle today’s largest container ships more efficiently by improving reach and enabling containers to be moved more smoothly and consistently, helping reduce time at berth. The cranes are fully electric, which helps reduce reliance on fossil fuels and supports the Port of Oakland’s ongoing efforts to cut emissions while modernizing its infrastructure,” according to a Port announcement.

“These new cranes represent an important investment in the future of the terminal,” said Cameron Thorpe, CEO of TraPac. “They improve efficiency today while helping move the Port toward a greener future.”

“We are very excited, and this is part of the Port’s broader modernization efforts,” said Bryan Brandes, Maritime Director at the Port of Oakland. “We’re focused on making improvements that support reliable operations and long-term environmental goals.”

Meanwhile, McKenney said a new crane will be arriving and will be erected at the Oakland International Container Terminal operated by Stevedoring Services of America (SSA): “In the coming year, we’ll be able to also welcome SSA’s new crane, and that comes on top of cranes that they brought in a few years ago.”

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