The only alternative is to take a ride on a six-seat plane whose fare is more expensive and it can only carry a limited amount of cargo.
Tinian Shipping and Transportation Inc., the sister company of Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino, stopped its ferry service on March 16 because the vessel must undergo dry docking repairs to comply with the American Bureau of Shipping’s regulations.
A round-trip air ticket to Tinian costs $69 while the ferry charges some $40 only.
“Tinian ferry has been the main transportation between the islands of Tinian and Saipan,” said Tinian Mayor Ramon M. Dela Cruz.” Sad to say, when we lost it, a lot of people were affected. We still have to go to Saipan to shop. And we can only take so much on the plane. To top it off, the ticket is very expensive. We’re still trying to bring back the ferry.”
He said the original plan is to dry dock the ferry for six months but it could take longer if Tinian Shipping fails to find the resources to expedite the process.
“As you know, these are difficult times,” the mayor told the Variety in an interview.
Dela Cruz said his office is now exploring the possibility of tapping federal grants to address their mass transportation problems.
He said he will ask the help of Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan.
The same matter was also brought to the attention of Commerce Secretary Michael Ada who heads the CNMI stimulus grant writing team.
“I did ask Mr. Ada to look into the possibility of trying to see whether we could get funding under the mass transportation grant and see whether we could apply for it,” said the mayor.
If a grant is approved for the purchase of a new ferry, the mayor said its operations will be privatized to ensure that it is run like a business entity.
“I don’t think the municipality has the capability to run it. Maybe we could have a private company run it. Today’s economic crunch is really bad. I don’t think the municipal government should be in the business of running this thing,” he said.
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