Oakland Votes to Ban Coal Shipments

zoomIllustration; Image Courtesy: Greenpeace The Oakland city council voted unanimously against the plans to send millions of tons of coal shipments through a proposed marine terminal in the area on Monday, according to media reports. The decision, which requires a second vote to be made final, prohibits the transportation, handling and storage of coal and petroleum coke at bulk material facilities or terminals in Oakland. The initial coal shipment plan envisioned about 5 million tons of coal to be sent by train from Utah to Oakland, where it would be loaded onto ships at the proposed Oakland Bulk and Oversized Terminal (OBOT) and sent mostly to Asia. The plan sparked a number of issues over the last year as supporters and opponents of the plan argued over the pros and cons of the shipments. Namely, the supporters of this plan argued that the coal shipments would provide job opportunities, while the opponents said that the operations would increase pollution in the area and pose health risks to workers and nearby residents. The proposed terminal was set to be built by the California Capital and Investment Group (CCIG) at the site of former Oakland Army Base. World Maritime News Staff