Senate President Paul A. Manglona and Senate Floor Leader Joaquin G. Adriano announced yesterday that the U.S. Amy Corps of Engineers had approved the final reconnaissance study for the improvement of the two islands’ harbor facilities.
“We are very happy that the reconnaissance study was approved. This means Rota and Tinian could push through with the improvement of their harbor facilities. If the project would be completed, large vessels would be able to enter our ports and will bring cheaper products to the islands,” said Manglona, R-Rota, and Adriano, D-Tinian.
Jim Hatashima, project manager of the Army Corps, said the approval of the reconnaissance study means that the project will now enter the second stage, which involves the drafting of a feasibility study on the navigational improvements at Tinian and Rota harbors.
This will be done to determine the increase in cargo transportation and handling efficiencies and the reduction of wave energy within the harbors of the islands that hamper the entry of commercial vessels.
The feasibility study will be completed in three to four years. If the fund is already available, Hatashima said they could begin the study this November.
The cost of the feasibility study is $2.6 million for the two islands.
For the Rota project, the island has to contribute $500,000 while the Army Corps will shoulder $800,000. For Tinian, the local counterpart fund totals $500,000, while the Army Corps’s share is $900,000.
