CNMI’s airports, seaports are Y2K ready

The airport and the seaport systems for Saipan, Tinian and Rota are now Y2K compliant after months of upgrading, ruling out any possibility of a computer shutdown brought about by the millennium bug, according to Carlos H. Salas, executive director of the Commonwealth Ports Authority.

“We are fully prepared to meet the new millennium with confidence,” he said. CPA had to beat a deadline set by the Federal Aviation Administration to ensure that airport operations has updated its systems when the computers are set to fail in the year 2000.

The millennium bug could jeopardize airport operations because it may fail to fix dates, calculate transactions and perform other operations.

A report submitted by CPA’s Y2K Task Force chairman David S. Demapan said 30 of 31 airport systems, which fall under the FAA regulations , are listed as compliant or non-applicable because the system either does not exist or the system is not date sensitive.

The Y2K Task Force made sure that all software, hardware and embedded systems are able to process dates near and beyond Jan. 1, 2000 correctly. These include the fire dispatch, communications, airfield lighting control, and all other emergency systems.

Based on the report, the airport access control system , a computerized program which controls access to secure areas of the airport, is in the process of being upgraded and is expected to be fully compliant by December 1.

CPA’s accounting system, which is considered critical for record management, payroll and disbursements to vendors, is also listed as Y2K compliant. The Y2K status report also lists Saipan Seaport’s computer hardware as 100 percent compliant. On the other hand, the seaport’s software will be compliant before Dec. 15, 1999.

The ports authority hired the services of an independent contractor to ensure that all information technology such as software and hardware used in all its systems (all three airports and seaports) are Y2K compliant. In addition, the embedded systems work was accomplished using in-house personnel and resources.

CPA has already conducted a Y2K drill several times to make sure that all the different sections at Saipan International Airport, including the airport tower, will be running smoothly by the turn of the century.