Port of Oakland clears major hurdle in project to accommodate larger ships

The Turning Basins Widening Project at the Port of Oakland has taken a major step forward, with the Oakland Board of Port Commissioners certifying the Final Environmental Impact Report and approving the project’s advancement during its meeting last Thursday.

The initiative aims to widen both the Inner and Outer Harbor turning basins at the Oakland Seaport, enabling larger and longer vessels to maneuver more efficiently.

As ship sizes continue to increase, current transit limitations have created operational bottlenecks causing delays, shore power connection issues, and broader economic impacts.

Kristi McKenney, Executive Director of the Port of Oakland highlighted that this long-awaited project is essential to maintaining the Port’s economic competitiveness and ensuring it continues to deliver value to the local community and the national supply chain.

McKenney noted that the Port is going above and beyond in its mitigation commitments by reducing air quality impacts to less-than-significant levels, using 100% electric dredging to limit emissions and repurposing dredged material for wetland restoration, supporting local environmental goals.

The project’s design phase is expected to begin later this year, with construction slated for mid-2027.

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