The recent cleanup of the Saipan channel by the U.S. Navy will pave the way for more military ships to visit the island, said Brennan, the chamber’s military committee co-chairman.
Visiting military ships usually anchor about a couple of miles off shore because the channel, prior to the cleanup, was not safe for them.
Crewmembers who want to spend time on island have to be ferried by smaller vessels.
Last month, the USNS Safeguard and Navy divers spent 21 days clearing Saipan channel of boulders identified as dangers to navigation, which are usually dead corals.
Having military ships docked at the harbor will be good for local businesses, Brennan said.
Usually, he added, there are 5,000 military and civilian personnel aboard the five to 12 vessels that visit Saipan, and they spend up to three days patronizing businesses on island.
Once the visiting military ships are docked at the harbor, hundreds of crewmembers can immediately take a walk to American Memorial Park or shop and dine in Garapan.
The USS Frank Cable, which may be the next military ship to visit Saipan, has 1,400 crewmembers.
There is also a luxury cruise ship with 2,000 passengers on board scheduled to dock at the Saipan harbor by the end of this month, Brennan said.
It is the chamber’s goal to make Saipan the military’s preferred R&R destination, he added.
