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CPA sets Saipan harbor inauguration
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Posted on Feb 03 1999
The Commonwealth Ports Authority has scheduled the inauguration of the newly-renovated Saipan Harbor on April 9, almost six years after the $42 million modernization project began.
With the completion of the channel’s dredging to -40, the harbor now has 2,600 linear feet of berthing space and a 22-acre container yard. In addition, the channel, turning basin and berthing area have been expanded to accommodate a large number and greater variety of vessels.
“Now four ships now can simultaneously dock in the harbor, unlike before when vessels have to wait on a first-come-first-serve basis,” said Antonio B. Cabrera, seaport general manager.
According to Cabrera, the timely completion of the project will help the CNMI government in its preparation for the establishment of a Free Trade Zone which is expected to lure more investors to the island.
The harbor has also become environmentally-friendly, safe and efficient with the setting up of an underground pipeline system for unloading of fuel and cement. “Before, the method we use in unloading fuel posed so much risk in the environment because hoses were made to float on the water,” he said. Likewise, the ports authority has tightened security of cargoes by installing fences, additional dock lights for night time operation and seawater fire fighting system, Cabrera added.
A $10 million grant from the U.S. Congress provided initial funding for the project. Aside from this, the ports authority loaned $13 million from the Retirement Fund and $13.5 million from the Commonwealth Development Authority.
Additional funding to complete the project was obtained through bond flotations in 1995 and 1998.
Samsung Engineering and Construction Corp. started dredging and fill work in June 1993. More than 1.5 million cubic yards of dredge materials have been dumped since the company began its work.
Planning for the project actually began as early as 1987, when the Army Corps of Engineers created a design for the facility which led the ports authority to begin looking for funds. In 1989, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers refused to fund the project but the following year, money was made available by the U.S. Congress.
