4 major bollards ready to collapse at Tinian harbor

Tinian airport and seaport manager Joseph Mendiola disclosed yesterday that four major bollards at the Tinian harbor are ready to collapse anytime soon, a situation that would critically hamper the operation of the island because it will render the harbor incapable of accommodating bigger shipments such as fuel tankers.

A bollard is a short, thick post on the deck of a ship or on a wharf, to which a ship’s rope may be secured.

Mendiola said the Tinian seaport has several bollards of which many are in poor condition and need replacement. However, four major bollards are in a real state of emergency because they may soon render the harbor incapable of accommodating bigger shipments, he added.

Mendiola said that acting governor Eloy Inos has already approved emergency repairs at the harbor, with the concurrence of Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular Affairs Tony Babauta, who was on island last week.

Saipan Tribune learned that shipments of Mobil Oil’s fuel tanker are already being affected by the port’s condition and is presently doing minimal shipment, based on the capability of the existing bollards.

“This is a very important and critical project, which is the reason why an emergency repair was approved by the governor and was concurred by Secretary Babauta. Four of our major bollards will collapse anytime soon and once it happens, we can no longer accommodate the fuel tanker,” said Mendiola.

Mendiola, a former chairman of the Tinian Legislative Delegation, estimated the total cost for the emergency project at about $500,000, including design, assessment, installation of four new bollards, and removal of the harbor fender. He described the existing fender as dilapidated.

He said the money will be sourced from the $3.2 million CIP funds reprogrammed by the delegation from its solid waste and waste water projects. The delegation decided to reprogram the entire $3.2 million after it realized that the total cost for the solid waste and wastewater project will reach more than $27 million. That number was arrived at in 2009 and expected to be higher now.

Mendiola said the harbor needs at least three “strong” bollards to hold bigger vessels. He said the existing bollards are still being used for small shipments to the island. He said he will ask the Tinian delegation to use the remaining balance of the reprogrammed funds for other important projects at the Tinian airport and seaport.

The invitation to bid for the emergency repair of Tinian harbor will be closed on Aug. 19. Mendiola hopes the new bollards may be operational before the end of the year.

He clarified that the emergency repairs for the Tinian harbor is different from the longstanding need to rehabilitate the harbor’s breakwater.