Supplies running low on Rota
In this photo posted by Lt. Gov. Ralph Torres on his Facebook account, a cultural hut made of native materials lies sprawled on the ground after being blown over by Typhoon Dolphin’s destructive winds on Friday night.
Typhoon Dolphin is now more than 600 miles northwest of the CNMI but is still causing problems for Rota. Because of high waves and strong winds, which could be associated with the typhoon’s tail end, shipment to the municipality is a challenge.
“My concern at this point is the shipment of goods and commodities,” said Rota Mayor Efraim Atalig.
According to him, large ships and barges bringing supplies to the island are having a problem docking at their port as the weather is still unfavorable and high waves are still present. This has been a problem even when Typhoon Dolphin was just approaching the islands.
He said the last shipment was three months ago. He worries that if the shipment will not come anytime soon, commodities such as rice, butane, and canned goods will be depleted.
“The stores are running low in supply. The merchants have been flying in their items but it’s expensive for the people,” Atalig said.
Lisa Camacho of Lucky Store on Rota confirmed that they are indeed experiencing lack of supplies.
“We don’t have too much anymore. We are out of butane. Some of our canned goods are also depleted,” she said.
Another store, 3 Kings Market in Sinapalo I, also said that aside from basic commodities, they are already running low on canned foods, sodas, juices, and milk.
Recovery and assessment
According to the mayor, damage assessment by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the American Red Cross is still ongoing.
Aside from damage to homes and infrastructure, they are also taking into consideration the damage sustained by farmers and their crops.
“I hope to have [the report] perhaps in two weeks. This thing takes time,” he said.
As of now, power restoration on the island sits at 90 percent. Atalig hopes power will be 100 percent up and running in the next few days.
They also continue to clean the municipality’s inner roads of debris. All the major roads have already been cleared.
The shelter at Rota’s Aging Office is still open and continues to accept clients.
According to the center’s acting program coordinator Valerie Apatang, nine clients stayed last night. Red Cross teams continue to assess the damage in the clients’ homes.
Lt. Gov. Ralph DLG Torres returned to Saipan last night after seeing for himself the damage brought about by Typhoon Dolphin on Rota.
In a posting on social media, Torres said he and Gov. Eloy S. Inos wish the residents of Rota a speedy recovery as they pick up the pieces after the typhoon and get life back to normal.
Wow out of supplies. What’s tbe population in Rota 500 thousands. Stop causing a panic
Rota is always low on supplies. Where is the fabled M.V. Luta. Maybe they need more fuel money?
Buenas Reno Jackson,
We had the privileged to meet up with the owner and the crews of MV Luta (Golden Meadow) last week. We were impressed with the progress that they made over the months. Due to the United States Coast Guard requirements to carry passengers in a cargo vessel, MV Luta had to adhere to the Coast Guard’s requirements prior to making its maiden voyage to the CNMI. MV Luta don’t need more fuel money, but it needs time to conform with the regulations given by appropriate regulatory agency.
On a different note, our organization would like to give thanks to the owner of MV Luta and its crews for affording us island style hospitality. It was a privileged to see MV Luta in person. The potential that the vessel can provide to our people in the future in the CNMI would be a game changer. Once again, Si Yu’us Ma’ase Mr. and Mrs. Fidel Mendiola Jr. for hosting us for several days. Your good deed would not be forgotten.
mv Luta (ex Southern Seahorse) is a tired old supply ship. She made her “Maiden Voyage” decades ago. The “passenger ship” issue is just a stall tactic. The delay waiting for approvals to carry “human cargo” has already outweighed any profit passenger service will generate. This is just part of the Senate President’s scam to get the Commonwealth to foot the bill for his cargo service.
Buenas Bananarepublic670,
We personally saw the engine room door going to the electrical room and the old small door had to be replace by a bigger stronger one. The new door and the cost to retrofit it cost thousands of dollars. Also, the entire engine room metal floor had to be replace with new ones and the process is very time consuming. The cargo crane on board MV Luta is awaiting parts from other entities and the wait is beyond the crews control. These people start their work at 6:30 a.m. each and every day. The entire ship’s electrical had been and are still being retrofit to this point in time. Since it is going to be carrying passengers, the vessel is being outfitted with the Coast Guard requirements in case the vessel caught on fire. We may go on what needs to be done, but we would leave it at that. We are group of people who had no conflict of interest relating to the MV Luta and we speak on what we had observed.
Si Yu’us Ma’ase
They have plenty of Toads and Boonie Dogs to eat, they will never starve!
Buenas Chelu,
Be nice. “Boonie Dogs” sounds appetizing but we humans prefer Spam and Corn Beef.
Why do you make it sound like “Due to the US Coast Guard requirement” we are waiting. Those requirements are for the protection of the sea going public, if they were not there, when an accident happens you would say it is the US Coast Guards fault for not inspecting. Everyone knew the requirement before the ship was bought.
If what is true from past statements, the vessel will only accommodate 12 passengers. That is more of a convenience as guest quarters rather than revenue generating.
I am not sure in this particular case, due to what exactly this vessel is officially classified as, but passenger carrying vessels require at least three water tight bulkheads along with watertight doors at various locations.
I am wondering if this vessel already had these or they had to be installed or upgraded.
There is also another safety requirements concerning fuel tanks and automatic fire suppression system etc.
There are so many other requirements also I am not familiar with all of the new updated regulations over the last 10 years.
For an old vessel to conform and be updated to meet these requirements cost a lot of money. Also the hull has to be “ultrasound” for thickness and “thin” areas have to be properly cut out and repaired.
This is the reason many steel hulled ships are sidelined after 20+ years or put under Panamanian flag (or others) to operate.
Buenas Bananarepublic670,
Based on our researched, the CNMI had not utilized its sea transportation grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation. MV Luta can or may or have the opportunity to used such grants or subsidies. The problem with such arrangement, grant writer is non-existence on our island chain or one may want a fortune for his/her service to initiate the process. Since such venture would benefit the CNMI as a whole, we need to step up to the plate and help find ways to get subsidy from the feds. If the cotton growers of America can get billions of subsidy from Uncle Sam each year, there is no reason why MV Luta can be afforded federal subsidy.
Let us nurture such venture, instead of trying to feed negativity on the owners good intention to help our people.
At the present time, there is no regular passenger transportation system to the Northern Islands and MV Luta would provide such services in the future.
Si Yu’us Ma’ase