Saipan harbor eyed as fish transshipment point

Fish transshipment in the Northern Marianas is not likely to become a large revenue-generating activity for the Commonwealth Ports Authority because the islands’ primary fishing waters are located far south of the CNMI’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone.

Thus, despite its rich water resources, the CNMI remains a consistent importer of fish products from island-states in Micronesia and other countries in Asia.

The Department of Commerce noted an increasing trend in the importation of fish products since 1990 though figures dropped in 1996 to 410,690 pounds from 515,900 pounds in 1995.

Driven by its desire to diversify the local economy through the return to subsistence livelihood like farming and fishing, the CNMI government has been clamoring for the authority to explore and manage the resources of the exclusive economic zone adjacent to the Northern Marianas.

Officials said the waters surrounding the CNMI offer local residents the opportunities for diversified economic development, stressing that the Commonwealth should be responsible to protect, develop and manage its marine resources.

CPA Board Chair Roman S. Palacios mentioned the bright potential for fish transshipment in the Northern Marianas especially when this is complemented by an aggressive and focused program.

A domineering program that may be implemented by the CNMI government on fish transshipment can handle at least 150 boat loads of 15-20 tons per month, bringing less than $3,500 in wharfage revenue to the seaport each month.
Also, there are some opportunity to transship fresh or frozen tuna in the CNMI, taking advantage of the airlift to Japanese market.
The Central and Western Pacific Ocean is home to the world’s largest tuna fishery, which is currently worth approximately $1.7 billion.

Mr. Palacios said the recently-completed Saipan International Seaport makes it more viable to make the island a transshipment point for fish and other seafood products from the Micronesian region to Asia.

The Saipan harbor project virtually started in early 1980s when a study conducted by CPA noted that the existing harbor lacked some of the major qualities that would help attract bigger vessels to call port on Saipan.

A new design for the Saipan seaport was developed in 1987 by the Army Corps of Engineers which also rejected a CPA request for funding in 1989. But the United States Congress allocated some $10 million for the project in 1990.

CPA officials in 1992 decided to scale down the proposed dredging scope from minus 40 feet to minus 35 feet due to financial constraints but reinstated the original depth when the agency eventually secured additional funds.

The improved Saipan seaport features 2,600 linear feet of berthing space, a 22-acre container yard, a deeper channel and a wider turning basin, as well as safe and efficient water, fuel and sewer systems.

Aside from funding problems, SHIP was also hounded by soil contamination at Baker Bay caused by wastes left by the USS Impedance which provided power to Saipan after Typhoon Jean wreck havoc in the island in 1968.