Chris Lytle News

Danny Wan, who has been the Port of Oakland’s interim executive director since July, is now  appointed to that role on a permanent basis.The Port’s governing Board selected Wan, who was was Port Attorney for six years earlier, at a special meeting on November 14. He replaces Chris Lytle who retired in July after six years at the helm in Oakland. The announcement caps a two-month, nationwide search."We're fortunate to have Danny as the Port's new chief executive - not only is he an experienced public professional, he is also a local leader with demonstrated commitment to the communities the Port serves," said Board President Ces Butner.Wan is a familiar figure in the Oakland community.

The Port of Oakland, a major container ship facility located in Oakland, California, in the San Francisco Bay, said that its Commissioners have approved an air quality plan intended to drastically cut diesel and greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the Port’s maritime operations.Christened as "Seaport Air Quality 2020 and Beyond Plan", it envisions a zero-emissions operation in the future. The Oakland Board of Port Commissioners voted last week to approve the 259-page plan.The Port said that the plan would provide a framework for maritime development for the next 30 years. The plan calls for changes in equipment, operations, fuels…

Containerized cargo volume moving through Port of Oakland is expected to increase 2 percent annually for the next five years. The catalyst for growth: a nearly $700 million injection of capital from outside investors. That’s the message Port of Oakland officials delivered to trade and transportation leaders here this week. “This is good, measured growth that’s not debilitating for our community or our operations,” Executive Director Chris Lytle told a meeting of the Port’s 55-member Efficiency Task Force. The Port boss said investment in facilities and infrastructure is boosting Oakland’s global trade status. Projects range from a new logistics campus to an online information gateway for cargo owners.

Containerized cargo volume moving through this city is expected to increase 2 percent annually for the next five years. The catalyst for growth: a nearly $700 million injection of capital from outside investors. That’s the message Port of Oakland officials delivered to trade and transportation leaders here this week. “This is good, measured growth that’s not debilitating for our community or our operations,” Executive Director Chris Lytle told a meeting of the Port’s 55-member Efficiency Task Force. The Port boss said investment in facilities and infrastructure is boosting Oakland’s global trade status. Projects range from a new logistics campus to an online information gateway for cargo owners. Mr.

The Port of Oakland released a new 5-year strategic plan today that pairs business expansion with community benefits. Called “Growth with Care,” the plan envisions more jobs and economic stimulus as the Port grows. According to the strategic plan, Oakland cargo volume should reach 2.6 million 20-foot containers by 2022. The Port’s Oakland International Airport is expected to serve 14-to-15 million passengers annually by then. Both would be all-time highs for Oakland. Growing business volume should lead to more hiring, the Port said. The Port added that it would prioritize local residents in filling jobs. “We can grow, but we want our neighbors to grow with us,” said Port of Oakland Executive Director Chris Lytle in a preamble to the 21-page strategic document.

A long-held vision to revitalize this city’s decommissioned Army base is nearer reality at the Port of Oakland. Port Commissioners have given initial approval to a landmark deal with CenterPoint Properties for a logistics center at the former base. The tentative agreement caps nearly 15 years of planning for the most-anticipated Port growth project ever. Port officials said today that the agreement includes unprecedented commitments to hire local workers. “The future is at hand,” said Port of Oakland Executive Director Chris Lytle. The Board of Port Commissioners voted initial approval of the agreement last night. It comes up for final vote Nov. 30. If Commissioners say yes a second time, the deal becomes official in January.

A $1.5 million subsidy program to stimulate night and weekend business at the Port of Oakland has been extended. The port’s largest marine terminal operator responded saying it will use the program to further expand weeknight operations. The announcement comes as the Port abandons its traditional 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. operating model. “The old way doesn’t work any longer,” said Port Executive Director Chris Lytle. Port Commissioners voted last week to continue through June 30 the fund that partially subsidizes extended gate hours. It had been scheduled to expire this week.

The Port of Oakland has set its plan to move containerized cargo once a marine terminal closes March 31. The Port said today its Continuity Plan will keep trade flowing and prevent vessel diversions to other ports. The plan addresses the impending shutdown of Outer Harbor Terminals LLC, formerly known as Ports America Outer Harbor Terminals LLC. The terminal operator has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and announced it will leave Oakland. The Port said its Continuity Plan calls for ships that use Outer Harbor Terminal to relocate to berths at adjacent terminals in Oakland. It said terminals will add labor where necessary and open gates nights and weekends to accommodate additional cargo.

A quarter-mile-long megaship that's the largest cargo ship ever to visit the U.S. is expected to arrive at the Port of Oakland on Thursday morning, port officials said Tuesday. Longer than an aircraft carrier, the Benjamin Franklin container ship is the largest vessel to ever visit the U.S. Were it tipped vertically, the ship would be taller than the Empire State Building. The 1,300-foot-long Benjamin Franklin, the 10th largest containership in the world, was launched from a Chinese shipyard last month and arrived at the Port of Los Angeles over the weekend. "The arrival of this big ship is a good sign," said Michael Zampa, a spokesman for the Port of Oakland. It is scheduled to arrive at 10:30 a.m.

The largest container ship to visit the U.S. West Coast is scheduled to arrive at the Port of Los Angeles on December 26. The CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, which was launched on December 10 is scheduled to make her maiden call at APM Terminals-Pier 400 at the Port of Los Angeles. The ship has a capacity of nearly 18,000 Twenty Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs), which is about a third larger than the biggest container ships that currently call at the San Pedro Bay port complex. “We were just welcoming a generation of 13,000 TEU vessels earlier this year, and now we are seeing one 28 percent bigger,” said Philip Sanfield, a spokesman for the port. The largest of the cargo ships that currently visit the port can hold up to 14,000 20-foot containers laden with goods from faraway ports.

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners appoint chief harbor engineer Al Moro as the Port of Long Beach’s interim executive director. Moro, who joined the Port in 1997 as a civil engineer, currently oversees all administrative and technical activities for the Port’s engineering programs, including nearly $4 billion in capital improvement projects. “The Board is extremely pleased that we have unanimously selected Al Moro as our interim executive director. He is highly respected by all of the commissioners, very well regarded in our industry, and well liked by the Port staff.