Oakland International Container Terminal to continue night operations

The Port of Oakland’s largest marine terminal will continue night operations even after a port subsidy expires this month, but will assess a $30 flat-fee on all loaded import and export containers once the subsidy ends.    The Port of Oakland’s largest marine terminal, the Oakland International Container Terminal, will continue night operations even after a port subsidy expires this month, the port said.
   The terminal will offer full – not partial – operations at night, funded by a fee it will collect on all cargo moving through the terminal.
   However, the terminal said it will assess a $30 flat-fee on all loaded import and export containers once the subsidy ends. The fee will finance the costs of night operations – principally for additional labor, the terminal said. The amount will remain constant regardless of the size of the container and will be levied on both day and night container moves. After 90 days, the terminal will review the night-gate program, including fees.
   “Thousands of cargo transactions have migrated to nighttime thanks to Oakland International Container Terminal,” Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll, said. “It’s imperative that we continue with extended hours to expand the workday and improve cargo flow.”
   With full operations, truckers will now also be able to drive loaded import containers off the terminal at night for the first time. Import pick-ups, the most time-consuming and labor-intensive terminal activity, had been restricted to daytime hours.
   The terminal said it will open night gates to harbor drivers Monday-through Thursday. It introduced night gates two months ago, aided by a $1.5 million Port of Oakland subsidy program.
   “No one likes fees,” Driscoll said. “But we think there’s tremendous value in easing daytime crowding and in offering full service at night when drivers can get in and out of port quickly.”
   The port suggested that expanded night operations may lead motor carriers to eliminate surcharges assessed for waiting at terminals. Those fees are levied on cargo owners but the port said they could become outmoded if night gates continue to speed up operations.