OAKLAND (BCN) — The first of 400 new dockworkers are arriving at the Port of Oakland’s this week to address its need for more labor to handle a buildup of ships and cargo, port officials said today.

The port said its goal is to speed up cargo operations and clear out the backlog of vessels that currently are anchored in San Francisco Bay.

Port maritime director John Driscoll said in a statement, “We’re not operating with the speed and efficiency our customers deserve right now.

Additional longshore labor is an important first step in getting back on track.”

Waterfront employers and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union agreed last month to increase Oakland’s labor pool, port officials said.

Although the first of the 400 new workers are arriving this week, the others will be phased into the workforce gradually through September, according to the port.

In addition to adding new workers, waterfront employers and the union agreed to train and promote 100 current workers to expand the workforce that’s available to fill positions that require greater skill and experience, port officials said.

The additional workers are needed because the volume of cargo on container ships in Oakland has increased compared to last year’s total for three straight months and the number of vessels arriving in Oakland has also grown, with 10 ships a day often berthing at the port.

In addition, some ships have to be anchored in the Bay for two days to wait for short-staffed terminals to clear vessels from berths and more auto carrier vessels and cruise ships are coming to Bay Area ports, which puts an extra strain on the pool of longshore workers, port officials said.

The labor shortage has lengthened the time ships spend loading and unloading by as much as a day and has also added time to the delivery of cargo at its final destination, according to port officials.

The cargo and vessel delays are expected to ease by the end of July, port officials said.

They said they’re also in discussions with waterfront employers and the union on taking further action to speed up cargo operations.

Port officials said that they don’t hire longshore workers because that is managed by marine terminal operators who lease their facilities from the port.