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Company to build barges on Saipan
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Posted on Jul 18 2005
A Guam-based company is seeking to put up a facility for building sea-going barges at the Port of Saipan.
Presented by businessman Anthony Pellegrino, the proposal of Ocean Surveys and Management Mariana Islands Inc. involves leasing the North Seaplane Ramp in Lower Base for use as the site of the barge manufacturing facility.
The proposal received conditional approval from the Commonwealth Ports Authority. The CPA board’s action remains subject to further negotiation.
Pellegrino’s partner, marine superintendent and Lloyd’s agent Gary L. Naftel, earlier wrote CPA to express his plan to establish a grass roots production yard for building sea-going barges certified by the American Bureau of Shipping and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Naftel noted that there is currently a great demand for such barges throughout the United States. “Five major barge manufacturers, one on the West Coast, three in the Gulf, and one on the Atlantic are booked up for the next three years for start dates in laying keels,” he said.
He also assured CPA that the planned barge manufacturing yard would not conflict with present plans to construct a drydock facility at the Saipan harbor.
“We are looking at a building program, not competing with any other entities that have interests in putting a docking maintenance facility in the harbor. This is a brand new business venture for Saipan, and to utilize space that continues to generate monies to the Commonwealth,” he said.
