The Port of San Francisco has reached a deal with Pasha Automotive Services, which will use the Pier 80 facility to import as many as 150,000 automobiles a year. It could also serve as an export hub for Tesla Motors, which manufactures its high-end electric cars in Fremont.For the first time in years, San Francisco’s Pier 80 will revert to its intended purpose: a working cargo terminal.
John Pasha, senior vice president of Pasha Automotive Services, said while it would take several years to reach full capacity, the terminal could eventually handle 96 ships annually and employ 50 longshoremen. The first ships could start steaming into Pier 80 this fall.
“It’s been several years since we had much work at Pier 80 — we’re really excited to have more work over there,” said Ed Ferris, president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union President Local 10.
The timing is fortunate for Bay Area longshore workers. In January, Ports America, which runs operations at dozens of U.S. ports, said it would terminate a 50-year lease with the Port of Oakland and cease cargo operations in Oakland’s Outer Harbor Terminal.
“That caused about 100 people to lose steady positions and come back to the hall,” Ferris said. “It’s been a little slow this quarter.”
In addition to automobiles, Pasha will use the pier for cargo pieces that are too large to fit into normal shipping containers.
