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Firm’s bid for drydock project OK’d
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Posted on Jul 15 2005
About a year since receiving the board’s conditional approval to proceed with the project, the Commonwealth Ports Authority management may finally start negotiating with a contractor regarding the construction and operation of a drydock facility at the Port of Saipan.
The CPA board of directors approved yesterday the award of the drydock project to Guam Industrial Services Inc., the sole bidder that responded to the ports authority’s request for proposals.
The board also authorized management to start drafting a contract and open talks with Guam Industrial, which operates Guam Shipyard.
CPA executive director Carlos Salas reported that, in the process of reviewing Guam Industrial’s proposal, the authority received various concerns and rumors against the company. But of these comments, CPA was only able to validate the one raised by the Guam Economic Development Authority, he said.
GEDA’s concern stemmed from Guam Industrial’s non-compliance with a loan that it made for Guam Shipyard. However, Guam Industrial has now settled its loan payment issues with GEDA, prompting the Guam government office to withdraw its opposition to the Saipan drydock project, Salas added.
Guam Industrial’s proposal includes the construction of a small ship repair and manufacturing facility 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.
CPA initially planned to use the North Seaplane Ramp area for the project, but it is now looking at building the drydock facility at Able Dock.
Once completed, the facility would provide maintenance service for tugboats, ferryboats, and shuttle boats operating between the seaport and the pre-positioned ships.
