2026 State of the Port of Oakland Outlines Key Objectives and Priorities
By Laura Germany, President, Women in Logistics of Northern California & VP, HR & Administration, Pacific Merchant Shipping Association
This year’s sold-out State of the Port of Oakland luncheon on February 4th, co-hosted by Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA) and Women in Logistics of Northern California (WIL), welcomed several firsts. This was the first State of the Port Address for Port of Oakland Executive Director Kristi McKenney, who was introduced at last year’s event on the eve of her appointment. McKenney is the first woman appointed to lead the Port as Executive Director after serving as the Port’s first COO for many years.
In her address, she highlighted the importance of securing new leases for the Port’s largest terminals. “We have three primary terminal operators. And right now, my number one priority is working in partnership with those terminal operators to get three new long-term leases in Oakland.”
One way the Port is accomplishing that is by focusing on economic improvements in 2026, which includes the introduction of new 450-foot-tall cranes, the first European-built cranes on the West Coast. Brought into the TraPac Terminal, these fully electric cranes will work to improve port efficiency as well as reducing emissions. This is a goal that the Port also aims to achieve by transitioning to zero-emissions cargo-handling equipment and trucks, and improving its electrical grid, facilitated by a $322 million Clean Ports federal grant received in 2024. This, along with continued progress on the Turning Basins Widening Project, will continue the Port’s efforts to attract cargo to the San Franciso Bay Area port.
In a recent development, the Howard Terminal appears to be heading for another possible redevelopment. McKenney announced an Exploratory Negotiating Agreement with the Industrial Realty Group and the Oakland Roots to work on a potential proposal to create a mixed-use industrial bulk and breakbulk cross-dock facility at the port and see if it is possible to integrate a less-intensive sports stadium as the western anchor of Jack London Square.
Continuing the Port’s efforts to improve its waterfront entertainment at Jack London Square, the Port is opening a new Dave and Buster’s and developing the recently acquired former location of the Waterfront Hotel, as well as other shops and real estate improvements, which should be facilitated by the recent passage of SB 304 (Arreguin).
For WIL and PMSA, co-hosting this event allows both organizations to raise funds for notable causes. WIL’s scholarship fund, which has provided nearly $125,000 to 54 recipients since 2004, awards students scholarships pursuing a career in logistics or supply chain management. For PMSA’s share, its proceeds are given to the Seafarer’s Ministry of the Golden Gate at the International Maritime Center (IMC), which provides much needed support to seafarers whose ships call into the Port of Oakland.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Port of Oakland and its staff for their hard work and significant support of this event year in and year out, including countless hours behind the scenes ensuring the event would be a success.
We also would like to acknowledge our generous sponsors, who without we could not put on this event. Our Gold Sponsors: FlexiVan, Harbor Trucking Association, HNTB Corporation, Matson, Matson Logistics, Ocean Network Express, The Pacific Companies, Pacific Maritime Association, PCC Logistics, the San Francisco Bar Pilots, and SSA Terminals (OICT).
We also extend our appreciation to our Silver Sponsors: Devine Intermodal, Everport, Foodlinx, Kos Read Group, Norton Lilly, Scan Global Logistics, TRAC Intermodal, and TraPac for their continued support of this event.
Finally, we would like to thank everyone who took part in the event: attendees, guests, Scott’s wonderful staff, and those who watched the event online. We are grateful for your unwavering support of this event, even in challenging times, and we do appreciate your presence. We look forward to bigger and better things to celebrate the Port’s centennial year in 2027.
For those who were not able to attend, the livestreamed event is available to watch here: https://youtu.be/lOVaAtCf8zI