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CPA seeks funding to repair breakwater
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Posted on Jan 27 1999
The Commonwealth Ports Authority has asked CNMI representative to Washington Juan N. Babauta for assistance in looking for sources of funding to be able to complete the $25.5 million rehabilitation of Tinian breakwater.
While the ports authority recognizes the need for its immediate repair, it cannot do anything to solve the problem because the rehabilitation is beyond its financial capability.
As Tinian is heavily dependent on its seaport for trade and tourism, the ports authority experessed concern that the worsening situation may endanger the peoples lives and disrupt their source of livelihood.
“Without a functioning breakwater to protect the port, a medium intensity typhoon could spell disaster, destroying vessels, the berthing area and the remaining dock. Such a calamity would devastate the local economy affecting everything from the food supply to the ability to generate revenue,” Salas said.
The structures and materials in Tinian Harbor were constructed and dredged by the U.S. Navy Seabees and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in late 1944 to implement the final phase of the Manhattan Project. Since then, no improvement has been made.
Except for the extensive deterioration of the iron sheet piling used for pier and breakwater facing, there is very little difference between the harbor constructed in 1944 and 1945.
The original design called for the harbor basins to be protected by a 4,600-foot breakwater built on the shallow fringing coral reef. However, this area has deteriorated and no longer provides any wave protection.
A second 3,500-foot breakwater originally constructed of interlocking steel sheet pile in a circular cell (caisson) configuration protected the ocean facing side of the harbor. In 1979 approximately 1,200-feet of breakwater was reconstructed to repair damage caused by typhoon Pamela.
At present, the eastern most end of the breakwater covering 1,000-feet has been badly damaged while the cells in other sections are in advance state of deterioration rendering it useless in due time.
The $25 million project will cover engineering, design, planning and rehabilitation.
