The Oakland board of port commissioners approved an ordinance that will make progress in reducing emissions from cargo handling equipment at TraPac, a marine terminal at the Oakland Seaport.
Port Commissioners unanimously voted to amend terminal operator TraPac’s lease to include green upgrades to cargo handling equipment at its terminal facilities.
TraPac will retrofit three rubber-tired gantry cranes (RTGs), converting them from diesel fuel to hybrid-diesel fuel, reducing emissions from this equipment by 95%.
This transformation will take place by the end of 2024, subject to Trapac securing grant funding.
TraPac will also purchase four new hybrid RTGs by the end of 2024, which will similarly reduce emissions by 95%.
Additionally, the port of Oakland is providing a financial incentive for TraPac. It will reimburse TraPac up to 35%, or US$945,000, whichever is less, for the cost of the RTG retrofits. While TraPac, alone, will finance the cost of the four new hybrid RTGs.
The passage of this legislation is significant because it is the first time a terminal operator has been called upon in a Port of Oakland lease agreement to upgrade cargo handling equipment to significantly reduce emissions.
“This landmark lease agreement will bring the port closer to its goal of achieving zero emissions operations,” commented port executive director Danny Wan.
He added, “We have multiple projects underway that are modernising the seaport and building the Port of Oakland into a hub of zero emissions innovations.”
