Port of Oakland announces FY2016 budget

The Board of Port Commissioners approved a $470 million budget for capital movements, runway safety improvements, and the construction of a transport and logistics center at the former Oakland Army Base in fiscal year 2016.    The Board of Port Commissioners of the Port of Oakland have approved a $470 million budget for fiscal year 2016, which begins July 1.
   The port said its FY2016 budget includes $167 million for capital movements, concentrated mostly at Oakland International Airport and the former Oakland Army Base; $73 million for runway safety improvements and Terminal 1 renovations at the airport; and $32 million for the construction of a transportation and logistics center at the former Oakland Army Base.
   The FY2016 budget is 6.7 percent lower than the one for FY2015.
   Meanwhile, the Port of Oakland attributed an increased number of containerships at anchor off the port last week to increased cargo volumes and idling of two cranes for inspection.
   There were nine ships at anchor at the port one day last week
   Spokesman Mike Zampa said, “More ships are calling. This is happening while one of our largest marine terminals has two cranes idled for inspection. So this week some ships go to anchor for a few hours – some for a day.”
   “We expect this to pass soon,” added Zampa. “We’re getting the cranes back in service. And we’re adding more labor, too – an additional 500 longshore workers. Before long all vessels will once again head straight to berth.”
   Chris Lytle, the executive director of the port said measures to accelerate Port of Oakland trade flows should begin rolling out in time for the peak shipping season.
   “We’re committed to greater efficiency at the Port and better service to our customers,” he told members of the Agriculture Transportation Coalition at their annual conference on Friday.
   Lytle said a plan to co-mingle truck chassis in a common pool could be operational by mid-September, in time for peak season.
   The port this week will send plans to the Federal Maritime Commission this week to begin Saturday operations in Oakland on a regular basis. Review is expected to take 45 days. The port expects to begin operations shortly after the Commission completes its work. Saturday operations would spread cargo movement over six days and ease weekday peak-period demand, it said.
   The port will also receive commercial bids this week on plans to open an off-dock container facility in California’s Central Valley. Located near most of the state’s largest growers, it would enable agricultural exporters to pick up empty containers and chassis without driving 200 miles and three hours to Oakland. The depot is expected to open by mid-September.
   Lytle also said the port plans to open a new agricultural storage and transloading depot, enabling exporters to send bulk grain shipments to Oakland via rail. From there, grain can be transferred to containers for delivery overseas.
   Waterfront employers and union officials have agreed to enlarge Oakland’s longshore labor force, Lytle said. An additional 500 dockworkers will be enrolled immediately. He said the move addresses recent labor shortages at marine terminals.