US Navy directed to report on port improvements on Tinian

At the request of Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (D-MP), the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee directed the U.S. Navy this week to report to Congress on the port improvements needed on Tinian for the military build-up there.

In his e-kilili newsletter over the weekend, Sablan said rebuilding the port is a long-standing goal of the people of Tinian, but justifying that expense is key to unlocking the millions of dollars needed.

He said the Appropriations Committee’s action is a “significant step toward justifying the dollars.”

The delegate noted that the Navy has already acknowledged the critical importance of the Tinian Port Joint Area Development Plan.

Sablan said appropriators now want to know more specifically the major and minor construction projects under consideration by the Navy to support port operations, the design options to maximize training capabilities, coordination efforts with the Commonwealth Ports Authority, and actions the Navy can take to accelerate the port projects.

He said these instructions are all included in the report accompanying the fiscal year 2025 military construction, Veterans Affairs, and related agencies funding bill the committee marked up on Thursday.

The committee directed the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for energy, installations, and environment to “provide a report, not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.”

Sablan said the bill is the first of the 12 FY 2025 appropriations bills to clear the committee and now heads to the House floor for consideration.

According to the Tinian Port Working Group’s Joint Area Development Concept dated July 10, 2023, the port was constructed in 1945 by Seabees and no major repairs done since then.

Breakwater, finger piers, and berths condition ranges from severely deteriorated to operational but in need of significant repair.

The Department of Defense’s current uses of port include support for limited training activities and support for Divert Airfield construction.

DoD’s future uses of port include support port expanded training activities, support for refueling for DoD airport fuel storage, and support for future DoD construction.

Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan