SSA Terminals, Inc. Signs for New Terminal in Oakland

Stevedoring Services of America has signed a letter of intent for a ne
w container terminal now under construction at the Port of Oakland. A
pproved today by Oakland's Board of Port Commissioners, the 150 acre f
acility is scheduled to open in early 2002 and will have an annual cap
acity of over 600,000 TEUs.
Jon Hemmingway, President of SSAT hailed the new terminal as "crucial
in serving the northern California container market. This will be the
largest and most capable terminal at the Port of Oakland," he continu
ed, "with the ability to serve multiple ocean carriers with multiple d
eployments at one time."
"As a long-term tenant of the Port of Oakland and a world-leader in te
rminal management and stevedoring," continued Hemmingway, "we are plea
sed to be given this opportunity to help create what will become a sho
wcase of container operations, technology, and efficiency."
The new facility, located at Berths 57-58 in Oakland's middle harbor w
ill feature 3,600 feet of continuous berth dredged to a depth of -50'
and up to six post-Panamax class container cranes. The cranes are now
under construction by ZPMC of Shanghai, China, and with a 66 meter ou
treach will be the largest and fastest container cranes in the world.
"This agreement between SSA Terminals and the Port of Oakland is anoth
er important step in completing our Vision 2000 programs and other imp
rovement projects," stated John Loh, President of Oakland's Board of P
ort Commissioners. "Over the next six months we will complete improve
ments at the Union Pacific Railyard, begin construction on the Joint I
ntermodal Terminal, and open the new Hanjin Terminal at Berths 55-56.
These projects will ensure that Oakland maintains its stature as one
of the premier containerports in the world."
"Oakland achieved solid cargo growth of 4.5% in 1999 and has experienc
ed 4.8% cargo growth during the first five months of this year," expla
ined Chuck Foster, the Port of Oakland's Executive Director. "New ter
minal construction provides the capacity for Oakland to handle continu
ing growth in international trade and to expand our participation in t
he intermodal market. We are expending significant resources in devel
oping our commercial capabilities while at the same time providing pub
lic benefit and improving the environment in northern California."