Ports America decides to move out – a blessing in disguise for west coast port of Oakland?

US terminal operator Ports America has decided to end its 50-year concession at the west coast port of Oakland.

Yesterday’s decision appears to represent the first response of the terminal industry to the twin challenges of larger vessels and the concentration of liner volumes into four east-west alliances.

Ports America said it intended instead to focus on its operations in Los Angeles and Long Beach, as well as Tacoma in the Pacific north-west. It has given the port authority 30-days’ notice of ...