January 22, 2026
Port of Oakland received the first European cranes on U.S. West Coast
Earlier this month the Port of Oakland welcomed two new container cranes at its TraPac terminal, marking the first time European-built ship-to-shore cranes have been deployed on the U.S. West Coast.
Ship-to-shore cranes are the large cranes that move containers between ships and the dock. The new Liebherr cranes, manufactured in Ireland, will make that work faster and more energy-efficient, helping the Port operate more smoothly while reducing environmental impacts.
The cranes will be assembled on site by skilled U.S. labor and are expected to be in service by May 2026.
Once operational, the cranes will stand more than 440 feet tallabout the height of a 40- to 45-story buildingallowing TraPac to handle today's largest container ships more efficiently by improving reach and enabling containers to be moved more smoothly and consistently, helping reduce time at berth.
The cranes are fully electric, which helps reduce reliance on fossil fuels and supports the Port of Oakland's ongoing efforts to cut emissions while modernizing its infrastructure.
The two cranes are the first of four new cranes planned for the TraPac terminal. Two additional cranes are scheduled to arrive later this year.
Source: Port of Oakland