THE Commonwealth Ports Authority has informed Rota Terminal & Transfer Co. Inc. that it must procure a crane or face default of its lease agreement with CPA.
CPA Executive Director Chris Tenorio on Wednesday also responded to the letter of Sen. Paul A. Manglona who informed CPA that MV Marianas had to return six containers to Saipan due to a lack of cranes at Rota West Harbor.
This is causing hardship among consumers on Rota because those containers were filled with commodities for the stores on island.
The failure to offload those containers due to the lack of a crane has caused a shortage of basic commodities and higher prices, Manglona said.
In his reply, Tenorio noted that “since 1996, Rota Terminal & Transfer has held the exclusive right to conduct terminal and stevedoring services at Rota West Harbor. Under the lease, RTT is responsible for purchasing any and all equipment that the Commonwealth Ports Authority deems necessary for the smooth and efficient operation of the port.”
He said CPA agrees with Manglona that a functional crane at Rota West Harbor is necessary, “and it has informed RTT that it must procure a crane or face default of its lease agreement.”
Tenorio also informed Manglona that CPA has already taken steps to improve the movement of containers inter-island through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Marine Highway Program.
Late last year, he said, the federal agency approved a new route designation between Guam and the CNMI. This route allows for the expansion of existing containerized freight by making projects along this route eligible for grant funding, Tenorio added.
These include the CNMI freight and improvement project, which will expand CPA’s maritime capacities for shipping inter-island cargo and commodities, and increase the frequency of such freight and reduce shipping costs.
Tenorio said he is hoping that Manglona will also use his influence as senator and pass a bill that will help CPA in its undertakings.
“Please continue to follow up not only on CPA’s already-taken proactive steps to address this issue, but also on other government entities within your sphere of influence, such as the Rota Mayor’s Office and its 2019 U.S. Office of Insular Affairs Maintenance Assistance Program grant award,” Tenorio said.
This file photo shows Commonwealth Ports Authority Executive Director Chris Tenorio listening during a CPA board meeting.
