PCMC supports new Liebherr ship-to-shore cranes at TraPac/Oakland

Pacific Crane Maintenance Company (PCMC) based in Long Beach, California, partnered with terminal operator TraPac to facilitate the acquisition and installation of two ship-to-shore cranes at TraPac’s container terminal at the Port of Oakland, including the training of mechanics, according to Isabella Kinkelaar, Director of Marketing & Projects, PCMC.

Kinkelaar told AJOT, “In November 2025, PCMC, in partnership with Liebherr, sent 10 mechanics and three managers, including myself, to Killarney, Ireland, which is where the Liebherr ship-to-shore crane factory is located. And our team, it was specifically for the mechanics, but also managers who oversee the TraPac terminal so that they could become trained on the mechanical and electrical specifics of the Liebherr cranes.”

She added, “So, it was important that our mechanics get … hands-on experience with the Liebherr team to make sure that they have all the knowledge that they need before it's these same mechanics’ responsibility to maintain these cranes.”

Right now, “our team is building the cranes, and then after the end of May, it will also be PCMC maintaining these cranes daily.”

Sue Coffey, Vice President, Marketing & Key Accounts, said PCMC has worked hard to maintain a high standard of worker safety, and the company has seen a decline in safety incidents over the last three years.

The first two cranes arrived in January at TraPac’s Port of Oakland terminal, marking the first deployment of European-built ship-to-shore cranes on the U.S. West Coast, according to the Port of Oakland.

Manufactured by Liebherr in Ireland, the new cranes represent a major infrastructure investment that will expand TraPac’s ability to service the world’s largest container vessels while supporting long-term sustainability and modernization goals.

Another first for the West Coast is that these cranes arrived as components and will be assembled on site. They are expected to be placed into service by May 2026.

Once operational, the cranes will stand more than 440 feet tall—approximately the height of a 40- to 45-story building—providing increased outreach and lift capacity. They will allow TraPac to service vessels up to 24 containers wide – currently the largest vessels afloat. They can operate up to 11 containers high on-deck, significantly expanding the terminal’s ability to include larger, next-generation container ships more efficiently and reduce time at berth. The cranes are fully electric and align with TraPac’s sustainability objectives and the broader environmental initiatives of the Port of Oakland.

“These new cranes represent a significant investment in the long-term future of the terminal,” said Cameron Thorpe, President and CEO of TraPac. “They improve terminal capability, increase efficiency, and help move the terminal toward our sustainability goals.”

“We are very excited, and this is part of the Port’s broader modernization efforts,” said Bryan Brandes, Maritime Director at the Port of Oakland. “We’re focused on making improvements that support reliable operations and long-term environmental goals.”

The two cranes are the first of four new ship-to-shore cranes planned for TraPac’s Oakland terminal. Two additional cranes are scheduled to arrive later this year.

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.