Fate of sole drydock bidder hangs in the balance
The Commonwealth Ports Authority will decide Monday whether to approve or reject the sole proposal the agency has received for the Saipan drydock project.
CPA executive director Carlos Salas said yesterday that the board would be presented with detailed information on the Guam Economic Development Authority’s opposition to the proposal submitted by Guam Industrial Services Inc., which operates Guam Shipyard.
GEDA had reportedly raised concerns about a certain lease provision related to Guam Industrial’s proposal.
Salas said the authority would have to re-open the project for new bids, should the board decide to reject Guam Industrial’s proposal based on GEDA’s concerns.
This is expected to cause further delay in the project, which is touted to benefit small vessel owners who, despite their limited cruising range, currently have no option but travel to Guam for repair and maintenance.
At present, Guam Shipyard is the only drydock facility in the region. There is an existing drydock area for small vessels at the North Seaplane Ramp in Lower Base but this facility is poorly equipped and the method used is crude and may be unsafe.
CPA requested proposals for the project as early as nine months ago. Only Guam Industrial responded to the request as of Oct. 29, 2004, the deadline for submission of bids.
Guam Industrial’s proposal included the construction of a small ship repair and manufacturing facility at the North Seaplane Ramp area at the Port of Saipan. Specifically, the company plans to design, build, and operate a floating drydock capable of providing repair and maintenance for vessels up to 250 feet long.
“We at Guam Industrial Services [are] enthusiastic about developing a small shipyard and manufacturing facility at the Port of Saipan by investing the capital, marine assets, and ship repair and manufacturing know how,” the company had said. “We believe we are the best capable and qualified company to undertake this project.”
Guam Shipyard has been providing repair, maintenance, overhaul and drydocking services mainly to military vessels since 1997. (Agnes E. Donato)