Variety was told that a shortage of construction supplies, aviation fuel, liquid petroleum gas and other items needed by businesses to operate is looming.
Shaun Christian, Star Marianas Ai, Inc. president and chief operating officer, said they get their aviation fuel from Saipan.
They still have enough fuel until the middle of December, but they are also expecting the shipment of their seventh aircraft which will be assembled on Tinian.
But without a stevedore, this will entail a huge cost, Christian said.
Wushin Corporation operation supervisor Jun Patawaran said Tinian Stevedore’s closure has affected their business.
One of Wushin’s biggest clients on island is the Tinian Dynasty Casino & Hotel.
If no new stevedore company will open on Tinian, Wushin will have to charter a vessel to ship their supplies and this is more expensive.
Saipan Stevedore Company Inc. may fill the need for a time, but Rep. Trenton B. Conner, R-Tinian, said there’s a “risk involved” if a company will assume operation temporarily without a proper contract.
As of press time last night, the Tinian mayor’s office had yet to issue an official statement.
In a separate interview, Dennis Yoshimoto, Saipan Stevedore Company Inc. chief executive officer, said “there’s nothing to report about.”
“We can’t say anything,” he said, when asked if they will take over the operation on Tinian.
Saipan Shipping Company administration and marketing manager Alex Sablan said they suspended their shipments to Tinian because the island has no stevedore company.
The next shipment to the island is scheduled for Dec. 9, but he said “maybe it will suspended” too.
