Oakland highlight
Port of Oakland
Established in 1927 and a pioneer in containerized shipping since the 1960s, the Port of Oakland handles 99% of containerized cargo for Northern California.
The Port of Oakland was formally established in 1927 as an independent department of the City of Oakland, consolidating maritime operations that had grown with California's Gold Rush and the rail expansion of the 1800s. During World War II it became one of the nation's busiest military supply ports. In the 1960s the Port pioneered large-scale containerized cargo operations, a shift that transformed the shipping industry and secured Oakland's position as a major Pacific trade center.
Today the Port operates three principal lines of business: the Oakland Seaport, which handles 99% of containerized cargo for Northern California; Oakland International Airport, which opened in 1929 and has grown into a major regional hub; and commercial real estate including the 20 miles of waterfront and Jack London Square. A $640 million modernization project with the Army Corps of Engineers is underway to deepen the shipping channels for larger, more efficient vessels and to reduce environmental impact.
A port is built on the idea that goods and people move reliably in and out, on schedule, with integrity. The people who work there and the businesses that depend on it are building something that lasts. When someone works in trade, transportation, or a port-related industry, they are part of a system built on planning and stability, qualities they need in their own financial lives as well.