The Port of Oakland was the first major port on the West Coast to build terminals for containerships, and it was the second largest port in the world in container tonnage in the late 1960s. Port History Appearing in American literature, it was the home for Jack London's sailboat, Razzle Dazzle, and his favorite saloon, which still stands in Jack London Square next to part of his 1898 Yukon cabin. The Port of Oakland's Jack London Square boasts the only restaurant and retail center in the San Francisco Bay Area where diners can watch as giant containerships pass less than 50 yards from the window. One-time Port Commissioner George Pardee, who was the Mayor of Oakland, kicked down a fence erected in 1893 by the Southern Pacific railroad to claim exclusive ownership the waterfront. In 1906, the State's Supreme Court ended disputes by granting the waterfront to the City. Port Commerce The Port of Oakland's container era started in 1962, when the world's largest freighter arrived to inaugurate containership operations by Sea-Land Service, Inc. Sea-Land modified four ships and invested in 5000 trailers that detached to become giant shipping boxes. The Port of Oakland invested $600 thousand to upgrade their piers to accommodate the line's operations. Since 1962, the Port has invested more than $1.4 billion to build 1210 acres of marine terminals, intermodal rail, and maritime support. The Port of Oakland offers 19 miles of waterfront on San Francisco Bay, where about 900 acres are devoted to maritime activities. The Port of Oakland owns and manages the seaport facilities. The Port of Oakland is one of the top four in the Nation and the top 20 in the world in annual container traffic. |