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Guam company hired for Tinian harbor
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Posted on Oct 17 2006
The government has hired a Guam-based engineering company to assess the actual damage at the Tinian harbor following the recent emergency declaration on the island.
Tinian mayor Jose P. San Nicolas said Monday that the Commonwealth Ports Authority has brought in engineer Juan C. Tenorio to do the work.
“He is here to assess the damage. He is going to evaluate the harbor. CPA will pay for the work,” said the mayor.
He earlier estimated that the project would need some $1 million.
“Right now, we need to get the actual cost based on this assessment,” said the mayor.
He said the harbor repair is most urgent since the damage—a broken portion of the footing of its wall—is causing “corals to erode,” making the dock channel shallow. He said this broken portion puts the area at great risk during typhoons.
He said that he could only lift the emergency declaration once the construction begins at the harbor. “The emergency remains in effect. When we start the construction, that’s when we can have peace and lift the emergency,” he said.
Over a week ago, the municipal government declared the island under a state of emergency stemming from the severely damaged outer seawall, which it said may result in its commercial harbor being inaccessible.
San Nicolas cited that the collapsed breakwater structures, which were built during World War II, have resulted in massive erosion of debris and soil into the channel over the years, causing the waters to become shallow. From 36 feet deep, the channel now measures only 15 feet deep, said the mayor.
The municipality said that rebuilding the breakwater will cost $40 million while its temporary closure will require $1 million.
San Nicolas said the government is still looking for necessary funds for the projects.
