THE Commonwealth Ports Authority is pushing for the development of Tinian as a major fishing and shipping destination.
CPA Executive Director Carlos H. Salas said they are working closely with Tinian officials in attracting investors willing to do business on the island.
“We want to revive the fishing industry which did very well before. Tinian seaport has the space to pursue this venture,” he said.
CPA board member Roman Tudela said in a recent interview that their economic mission to Asia, particularly in Hong Kong, was “very educational.”
Tudela, board member Ray Cing and CPA finance director Rex Palacios met with two largest terminal operators in Hong Kong.
“We told them about the business potential of Tinian and the CNMI as a whole. We’re inviting them to consider us,” Tudela said.
He said modern shipping equipment available in Hong Kong could also be used in CNMI seaports.
He said CPA hopes to get one or two gantries or huge cranes to make cargo shipment faster.
“The big gantry can offload container 10 times faster than what we have right now,” he said.
“It’s a very informative trip. We want to have such transshipment business here,” Tudela said.
He said CPA looks at possible build-operate-transfer arrangement with potential investors.
Salas said Tinian has the capacity to become a major fishing and shipping center.
He said the completion of the 8,600 feet Tinian International Airport runway would also boost not only passenger arrival, but cargo shipment as well.
