The Oakland Board of Port Commissioners has approved an ordinance that is expected to help reduce emissions from cargo handling equipment at TraPac, a marine terminal at the Oakland Seaport.
Port Commissioners unanimously voted to amend TraPac’s lease to include green upgrades to cargo handling equipment at its terminal facilities.
TraPac will retrofit three rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs), converting them from diesel fuel to hybrid-diesel fuel, reducing emissions from this equipment by 95 per cent.
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 per cent.
The Port of Oakland is providing a financial incentive to TraPac as it will reimburse TraPac up to 35 per cent or $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.
This 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, according to the port.
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“This landmark lease agreement will bring the port closer to its goal of achieving zero emissions operations,” said Port Executive Director Danny Wan.
“We have multiple projects underway that are modernising the seaport and building the Port of Oakland into a hub of zero emissions innovations,” Wan added.
“This is a vital step towards our plan to become a zero-emissions seaport,” said Port Board President Barbara Leslie.
“These investments in hybrid cargo handling equipment will cut diesel emissions by 95 per cent,” Leslie added.
These green upgrades are the latest eco-friendly efforts the Port of Oakland have committed to.
