He said there are not enough cargoes coming to the island and it’s “very hard to stay in business that way.”
With the increasing costs in personnel, utilities and insurance, all compounded by the new federal rules, Conner said it is becoming too expensive to stay in business in the CNMI today.
Tinian Stevedore Inc. has nine employees — stevedores, truck driver, forklift operator and a mechanic — who will lose their jobs.
Some of them, especially those who have been in the company for over 20 year years cried when the board announced the shutdown during a meeting last Sept. 23.
Back in 1999, Tinian Stevedore used to have over 100 employees. The number kept going down as the years went by. There were only 15 last year, then 12 earlier this year. And now the nine who will lose their jobs.
Asked what’s going to happen with their facility at the Tinian seaport that they will vacate soon, Conner said it’s up to the Commonwealth Ports Authority.
But sources from the local shipping industry said Saipan Stevedore may take over the facility.
Tinian Center Inc., which provides administrative services to Tinian Stevedores, will place job vacancy announcement to give the nine workers an opportunity to find new jobs.
The other owners of Tinian Stevedore are Gilbert Macaranas, who is now on Guam, and Venusto Arizapa.
