The shipping platform

Location: The Port of Oakland, California, is located 4.8km E of San Francisco and virtually due E of the San Francisco Bay entrance. Overview: The port comprises two areas, Outer Harbour and Inner Harbour, approached through a common entrance at Bar Channel, and also the basin S of Alameda Naval Air Station. The port occupies 30.6km of waterfront on the mainland shore of San Francisco Bay, with more than 318ha of terminal facilities. There are 28 berths of which 23 are deepwater serving container, combination and Ro-Ro vessels, with 37 container cranes, 30 of which are post Panamax types. In terms of annual container traffic, Oakland ranks among the top 20 ports in the world. Its extensive container terminal facilities and good rail and highway connections make Oakland a major gateway for intermodal shipments to and from the Midwest, Gulf and East coasts, as well as N California. Three major railroads serve the port. Traffic figures: Approx 30,000,000t of cargo, 2,390,000TEU and 1,980 vessels handled annually. Load line zone: North Pacific Seasonal Tropical Area, Tropical Mar 1 to Jun 30 and Nov 1 to Nov 30, Summer Jul 1 to Oct 31 and Dec 1 to Feb 28/29. Max size: Max draught 15.2m. Vessels with draught over 13.7m must take Bar pilot on board at least 1 hour prior to HW. Max vertical clearance San Francisco-Oakland Bridge 58m to 67m depending on temperature/weather conditions. Largest vessel handled: LOA 284.7m, draught 14m, 68,687GT.