TraPac commissions Liebherr built ship-to-shore cranes at Port of Oakland

Port of Oakland terminal operator TraPac hosted a commissioning ceremony on July 7^th, 2026 for two ship-to-shore cranes manufactured by crane maker Liebherr at its Ireland facility and assembled at the Port by longshore workers represented by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) coordinated by Pacific Crane Maintenance Company (PCMC).

The TraPac Vision

In his opening remarks, Cameron Thorpe, CEO, TraPac, said: “These are the first ship-to-shore cranes to be fully assembled in the U.S in a generation … Today we take the first steps by placing the first two of these cranes into service, but we're not finished there. Two additional cranes are currently under construction behind us. And will join the Oakland fleet later this year, around October. Once complete, they will stand as the tallest ship-to-shore cranes in the Port of Oakland. Together, these investments will position trade back to Oakland to accommodate the largest vessels serving the Trans-Pacific trade. More opportunity for our customers, great efficiency supply chain, and a stronger, more competitive future. Oakland is ready to meet the evolving needs of global trade for decades to come. We are proud of what has been accomplished together as a team. We're even more excited about what comes next to our customers.”

A TraPac video explained that the cranes arrived in sections and were assembled on site by PCMC using ILWU union labor. The cranes rise more than 440 feet tall, roughly the height of a 40-story building:” This project represents much more than the arrival of new equipment. It's an investment in the future of our terminal, our customers, and the Port (and) … gives us the ability to service the largest container ships operating today. This investment also strengthens Oakland's role as one of the West Coast’s premier gateways for refrigerated and agricultural farming. California farmers and food exporters depend on reliable high-capacity infrastructure (for) markets around the world. From fresh produce growing in the Central Valley to California wine and dairy exports, these cranes will help harvest more efficiently and reliably. Through Oakland, the impact extends beyond terminal operations. The Port of Oakland supports tens of thousands of jobs across California and is certainly critical (jobs) in the supply chain.”

Liebherr Crane Manufacturing

Following Thorpe was Shane Kuhlmey, Director Maritime & Construction Equipment, Liebherr, who said: “Today we celebrate the commissioning of our STS cranes. But today's more than about cranes. It's about vision, it's about partnership, and above all, it's about trust. Trust is what makes projects like this possible. Trust. It begins long before the first steel is cut, long before the first ship arrives, and long before these cranes ever touch a container. This journey began more than 5,000 miles from here with Liebherr container cranes being manufactured in Killarney, Ireland, founded in 1958 at Liebherr’s first manufacturing facility outside of Germany.”

Kuhlmey added that Liebherr’s Killarney facility “has become a symbol of engineering excellence, innovation, and craftsmanship, serving ports around the world. Today, that heritage comes to the Port of Oakland. These cranes represent the first STS cranes ever operating on the U.S. West Coast. And that makes a historic day for all of us. But milestones are never achieved by equipment alone. Behind every crane, there are hundreds of people, engineers, technicians, project managers, manufacturing teams in Ireland, shipping and logistics specialists, TraPac … the Port of Oakland, along with PCMC, all of the ILWU unions that have been mentioned, and countless others who dedicated their experience and commitment to making today possible.”

At Liebherr, he said, “We believe that delivering the crane is only the beginning of the relationship. Our commitment continues through the entire life of every machine, with local support, technical expertise, and a partnership that extends well beyond Commissioning Day at TraPac.”

PCMC & ILWU: The assembly process

Darrin Del Conte, Chief Commercial Officer, Pacific Crane Maintenance Company (PCMC) was the next speaker who traced the history of the project: “This journey began a couple of years (ago) … and at that time, the question in everybody's mind was: ‘Will this project be successful?’ …. So now we fast forward to January of 2026. You've heard this already. The ship comes in, and two cranes arrive. We have two weeks of discharge in the ship before we can even start working on these things. Thousands of pieces above deck, below deck, all over the deck … and the guys went to work and started building these cranes. Five months later …the cranes are going to be ready to work their first vessel, maybe as soon as next week. So, to get this project done in the timeliness that it was, is really quite a feat and … we're proud of everybody (that) did that. One of the things that we found out as … we're building these cranes is that the quality of these cranes is unsurpassed. They're the first European-built cranes since the nineties, the first on-dock stick-built crane since the eighties. For those of you who don't know, most cranes come fully erected. And to build … piece by piece is really something…”

Del Conte praised the work of the ILWU workforce including Local 10 based in Oakland and Local 13 based in Los Angeles, (which provided technical support personnel), as well as the family of ILWU participants: “We became a team … (and) thanking all you guys for all your work. And these first two cranes, they were completed on time and most proudly I can say, and it's to these guys right here” indicating ILWU workers in attendance.

Michael Villegiante, President ILWU Local 10, acknowledged the union’s contribution, stating: “This is really important for our community for the region, and for the workforce. But I just want to reach out and say (to) the workers and the longshoreman mechanics … we're all longshoremen … eventually we're all going to unload these ships and with these beautiful cranes it's outstanding, outstanding.”

Villegiante was followed by Adrien Lowery, President of ILWU Local 91, and David Gonzales, President of ILWU Local 34, who both expressed their support for the project.

Two Oakland Harbor Commissioners followed:

• Stephanie Dominquez: “This is a statement about the Port of Oakland and who we are. And it's a proud statement to make. Our new cranes stand over 440 feet tall, and they can service vessels up to 24 containers wide. The largest ships afloat today. We're not just keeping up with the future of shipping; we're building it right here on our waterfront. These cranes are fully electric. That's our commitment to Oakland and the region. And the Port doesn't just talk about cleaner, greener futures. We build it one crane at a time.”
• Derrick Muhammad: “This is more than an investment in equipment. It's an investment in the future of the Port of Oakland. These cranes strengthen our ability to compete globally, move cargo more efficiently, and support the thousands of jobs that depend on a strong and vibrant waterfront.”

Kristi McKenney, Executive Director, Port of Oakland, was the final speaker. She thanked TraPac and Liebherr noting: “I'm sure it was a lot of work to be the first out here on the West Coast to make these happen … and of course, it doesn't happen … without the men and women who built these cranes including the ILWU and … PCMC ... It is so thrilling to have them (the cranes) built right here … at the Port of Oakland.”