IPI gets go-signal to take down 3 cranes

The contractor hired to dismantle Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC’s three construction cranes atop its unfinished casino/resort buildings in Garapan has been given the go-signal to start taking them down.

Public Works Secretary Ray N. Yumul informed Ocean Bee LLC manager He Quo Xiang in the notice-to-proceed he issued Wednesday that the start date for the dismantling/removal of the cranes begins today, Friday. Ocean Bee LLC received the notice yesterday.

As per the terms of the contract, taking down the three cranes should be done within 30 calendar days, which will place the completion date on Dec. 31, 2023.

During the monthly meeting of the Commonwealth Casino Commission board yesterday, Lito Parulan, spokesperson of Ocean Bee LLC, said they already assessed the cranes yesterday and will start the actual dismantling today.

Parulan said everything has already been coordinated with DPW, IPI, the Department of Public Safety, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

He said they will first dismantle tower crane No. 5 that is facing the Joeten Hafa Adai Shopping Center, then tower crane No. 6 and crane No. 1.

Parulan said police officers will be on the traffic side, while DPW and OSHA will monitor and check the operations.

He said Ocean Bee already submitted the documents that DPW required.

Yvonne B. Tenorio, who is the acting DPW Building Safety official, recently asked Ocean Bee to submit documents for their review and approval before it starts removing the cranes.

The requested documents are bonding insurance, list of employees hired for the work, and timeframe for dismantling the tower cranes.

Last Oct. 5, Tenorio required IPI to disassemble crane No. 5 immediately as it poses an imminent threat to public safety and properties.

Crane No. 5 has reportedly not been used since December 2020.