Recently, businessman Paul Zak made a “very comprehensive” power point presentation about transportation to and from the Northern Islands during a regular meeting of development planners and the working committee for the upcoming Resettlement and Re-development of Northern Islands Summit.
The Pacific Development Inc. has also expressed an interest in Northern Islands development.
The firm wants to engage in eco-tourism-related ventures involving bed-and-breakfast accommodations, as well as pineapple and sugar cane plantations, said former Rep. William S. Torres, consultant for the upcoming summit.
PDI, he added, also expressed interest in alternative energy using ethanol extracts from sugar cane and is interested in coordinating stopovers of cruise ships during their return voyage to Japan.
IP&E Shell, for its part, has discussed the potential of a refueling station on Pagan, he said.
“Having a fuel farm up north will help the transportation business tremendously, in that no longer would there be a need to bring extra fuel while traveling up north as it is done today. Having a refueling station will enhance ocean and air travel to the north,” he said.
In his presentation, Zak said transportation is the “key” for the realization of the development plan.
He proposed to create an “air bridge” to the Northern Islands through Arctic Circle Air.
Zak said transportation will provide means to support essential services, personnel and residents as well as supplies and tourists for eco-tourism, diving and fishing.
He identified two transportation options: ocean and air.
Currently, a charter vessel can travel up to two days from Saipan to the Northern Islands.
However, there’s no dock for unloading cargoes and the vessel is not available to transport tourist with adequate accommodations, food and entertainment.
Air transportation is feasible since the island has an existing runway, Zak said.
The charter aircraft will only need one pilot with 1.5-hour flight time for nine passengers or 2,500 lbs of load.
Zak said the Northern Islands have potential for fishing, eco-tourism diving and smoking, hiking and exploring and overnight camping.
The aircraft, he said, will also transport local residents and essential government employees, surveyors and construction workers.
Zak presented services that Arctic Circle Air can offer which include aerial sightseeing to Anatahan, Sarigan, Guguan, Alamagan and Pagan for photography and video.
The requirements before the aircraft service are a clean runway and maintenance procedure, wing direction indicator, strobe light on both ends of the runway, airport office, radio, satellite phone, parking pad, luggage and cargo wagon and one airport employee.
Zak said funding could be provided by the Commonwealth Development Authority, the Marianas Public Land Trusts or the Commonwealth Ports Authority.
He said the CNMI can also tap federal grant money available from the Department of Lands and Natural Resources, Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The Marianas Visitors Authority’s promotional support, private investors and development, tax abatement and credits as well as foundation grant money can also be funding sources, he added.
He is hoping the Northern Islands mayor’s office can invest at least $50,000 in Arctic Circle Air.
“Arctic Circle Air can become the air service provider for the Northern Islands,” he said.
According to Torres, Zak along with Arctic Circle Air president Tony Pellegrino made an impressive presentation before the development planners/working committee.
