Port of Oakland welcomes first European cranes on U.S. West Coast 

The Port of Oakland this week 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 arrived in sections and are currently being unloaded. They 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 tall—about the height of a 40- to 45-story building—allowing 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.

“These new cranes represent an important investment in the future of the terminal,” said Cameron Thorpe, CEO of TraPac. “They improve efficiency today while helping move he Port toward a greener future.”

“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 cranes planned for the TraPac terminal. Two additional cranes are scheduled to arrive later this year.