One of the largest vessels to ever visit a North American port, the MSC Anna, has docked at the Port of Oakland. The ship will spend the next day having containers unloaded, and then taking on exports.
This 1,300-plus ft long ship has containers full of everything from clothes to toys to electronics inside. People gathered, with 6 feet of social distancing, to take pictures as she went beneath the Bay Bridge. Evette Davis with the Bar Pilots Association said getting the Geneva-based container ship here took a James Bond maneuver by the four bar pilots some 11 miles outside of the Golden Gate
“They had to come along side it in a small pilot boat, pop up on a ladder on the side of that large ship, climb up,” said Davis, “Get onto the deck and then assist with navigation.”
Navigation will be handed back to the Captain 11 miles at sea when she heads to Asia. Simulations had been planned for weeks.
“[We considered] all kinds of factors - the wind, the tides,” said Davis.
This is international trade on display, which is unfortunately on the decline during the coronavirus pandemic. The port saw a more than 7% decline in traffic last month, with more declines forecast in the months to come. But this is also a promise of what can be, along with all the truckers lined up to carry these goods to market.