Officials from the Port of Oakland and the US Army Corps of Engineers have signed an agreement to widen and modernise waterways to accommodate larger cargo vessels.
The design pact marks the initial stage of a $640 million infrastructure project intended to maintain maritime trade capacity, the port noted.
Cargo ships entering the port frequently reach 1,300 feet (396 metres) in length and must navigate an estuary that currently offers 150 feet (46 metres) of clearance on either side.
Congresswoman Lateefah Simon described the widening initiative as “a prime model of local, state, and federal governments coming together to drive innovation and economic growth”.