24,000 TEU-Ready Container Wharf Infrastructure Upgrades at Port of Oakland

Abstract: The Port of Oakland embarked on a project to upgrade the existing wharves at Berths 55-59 at the Oakland International Container Terminal (OICT) to accommodate ultra-large container vessels (ULCVs) up to 24,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). The existing facility consists of 6,000 feet of wharf accommodating five vessel berths designed for an approximate 8,000 TEU vessel. Each wharf section is 1,200 feet long with Berths 55-56 constructed in 2002 and Berths 57-59 constructed in 2005. The existing fenders and bollards have reached the end of their useful life and are significantly undersized for the largest modern container vessels. This project consists of removing existing undersized fenders and bollards, installing larger fenders and bollards, and performing wharf strengthening improvements without disrupting ongoing container operations at the Port’s busiest container terminal.

The existing terminal handles approximately 60% of the Port’s annual throughput with roughly 50 vessel calls every month. These numbers demonstrate how critical this facility is to Port operations. The Berth 55-59 Wharf Upgrade project and a coordinated project to widen the existing Inner Harbor and Outer Harbor turning basins are parts of a strategy for the Port to remain a preferred gateway on the U.S. west coast for imports and exports.

This paper focuses on key decisions made during the design phase of the project to minimize construction impacts to container terminal operations and to accommodate future operational needs including: 1) an innovative use of existing bollard anchor bolt holes and bollard changeover plates to eliminate concrete drilling/coring and to minimize construction installation time, 2) design of a wharf strengthening scheme including a fender backing drop-down panel and bracing system to transfer eccentric fender loads directly into the existing waterside crane beam and piles, 3) optimizing fender panel offsets to ensure existing cranes can reach all rows on the larger vessels, 4) lowering the fender installation elevation by two feet to accommodate future vessel shore power improvements at the site, and 5) utilization of the largest available 300 metric ton bollards at select locations to provide additional mooring points to accommodate all vessel sizes and mooring line configurations anticipated during operations.

The project is currently in construction with substantial completion scheduled for January 2025.

How does this project / topic contribute to the advancement of the industry and profession?: Container vessels continue to increase in size requiring owners to develop innovative approaches to cost-effectively upgrade existing marine infrastructure to remain competitive. The approaches used on this project serve as a strong example for similar projects.

Does the project / topic implement new and innovative techniques, materials, technologies, and delivery methods?: Yes, several innovative design approaches were used including bollard change-over plates, reuse of existing bollard anchor bolt holes, and a fender backing panel designed to minimize fender panel offsets.

What was the most challenging aspect of your project / topic and how did you handle it to ensure success?: The most challenging aspect was minimizing impacts to operations. This included designing upgrades that were adequate for the larger loads but also detailed and sized for efficient Contractor installation to minimize field time. The team developed a phased approach in the bid documents to provide unobstructed access to the Contractor to work on one berth at a time while container operations continue at the remaining four berths. The phasing required the Contractor to complete as much work as possible in advance of any berth shutdowns including rebar and utility locating, fabrication measurements, material procurement, and anchor layouts.

Who is the target audience for this paper?: Port infrastructure owners, terminal operators, engineering consultants, and marine contractors are the target audience for this paper.