NI mayor’s office eyes own vessel
To lessen the burden of waiting for quarterly rides to the Northern Islands, Northern Islands Mayor Jerome K. Aldan is considering the idea of having his office purchase a passenger and cargo ship.
Aldan, along with Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council chair Antonia M. Tudela, met with the U.S Coast Guard Marine Safety Office last Sept. 8 at the Horiguchi Building to discuss acquiring a vessel.
Aldan proposes to purchase a vessel that could carry about 50 passengers and cargo.
“It is part of the redevelopment process and we’re trying to build our own goals and take off with the redevelopment of the Northern Islands so we could have a vessel ready and come and go when we need to,” Aldan said.
Right now, according to him, it takes about three months or more to charter a vessel for the Northern Islands and this is too long a wait.
“If we acquire a vessel, it would eliminate the timeframe and the frequency of the visit would be more readily available instead of every quarter,” he said. “If we own one, it is a one-time purchase and we can use it anytime.”
He declined to come up with a projected cost for the project, saying they are still in the exploratory stage.
“We’re going to tap funds and we’re working with the CNMI Governor’s Office Grants Management Office to do this and we’re doing the legwork right now,” he said.
The USCG office provided them information on the logistics of purchasing and operating a passenger and cargo vessel. The USCG recommended three options: One, acquire a U.S.- certified vessel that would go through initial inspection under U.S. standards; two, purchase a vessel and put it under a foreign flag that would still be inspected by the U.S. and required to comply with the rules of the country it is under; and three, get a foreign-built boat and the U.S. can certify it under U.S standards.
Getting one might be easy….running it is the problem. It will cost an arm and a leg that you don’t have. Genome should seek help for his nightmares and should instead support the military’s needs.
Buenas enuff,
We do understand that running a vessel is a costly proposal, but if you look at it deeper, it would be more cost effective for Honorable Aldan to acquire one. Since the Office of the Mayor of the Northern Islands is not for profit entity, the sky would be the limit. The Mayor can tap into many grants and donations (tax write off) from the feds, corporate and individuals from the mainland United States to make his plan work. He needs to hire an individual or contract an entity to research and write grant proposals for his constituents. He should allocate money for grant writer or writers from his allocated budget, instead of having non productive or do nothing individuals on his payroll. But again, as you said, it is easier said than done.
Also, one sure thing is the United States Marine Corps and he would have a flotilla to move or transport goods to and from the Northern Islands. To think about it, it is not him that suffers and he seems to care more about his political future than helping out our people for the long haul. It is very evident that his self interest comes first.
We have individuals who write grants and millions of dollars had been allocated to benefit low income communities. At times, it is okay to seek assistance from others when you don’t have a clue on how to do your job.
Si Yu’us Ma’ase
A floating bill which the government could not afford. Which grant will support, who will maintain for example the CNMI Challenger.
Buenas Tradesman,
The last time we checked, the CNMI had not tapped or used its sea transportation grants from the feds. And corporate entities would or may rather donate used vessels or money to a 501 c3 organization for the tax incentives. Mr. Aldan is the gate keeper of the Northern Islands, he should come up or explore the wide range of opportunities in front of him. But the way we see things done in the past, he is out to enrich his families and friends and at the same time get re-elected. The CNMI government is giving thousands of dollars each fiscal year to the Northern Islands coffer and at least use a portion of that money to explore ways of getting grants or corporate donations from the United States. This guy needs to be creative to make things happen, instead of crying or begging for relief assistance from Uncle Sam. “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.”
You are right, that the present mayor of the Northern Islands is not capable of running an ocean transport vessels and let alone his allocated annual budget. It must be nice to be on the payroll and not doing anything for the betterment of the whole and living life to the fullest. Typical corruptions in the CNMI.
Si Yu’us Ma’ase
OMG!! Every vessel that the NMI has owned has been trashed within months. Also it ends up as an almost daily fishing and excursion vessel by the Govt officials and political appointees with the Govt. supplying fuel.
Who would do the maintenance and other “daily” requirements to keep it up?
The cost of maintaining a ‘certified’ vessel along with the yearly required dry docking, inspections and required upgrades etc.will be burdensome (costly)
These local Mayors offices cannot even keep equipment “maintained” and operational and you want a large vessel?
Just how much fuel will it cost per trip? (depending on the engines and vessel size)
A vessel is more costly and also requires more attention than a wife or girl friend.(plus a family of ten)
What happens when a typhoon or other storms come through?
A 50 pax vessel plus cargo? best talk to your Rota friend Victor, he can find another Japanese “investor” to scam into buying you one. Another ghost ship for the NMI.
Too funny.
I wanted to comment, but Captain said everything. Guess they don’t learn from the past that money doesn’t grow on trees. If you have the money for this vessel where you been hidding it.