In an interview with Variety during the recess of the CPA special board meeting last Friday, Jose R. Lifoifoi said, “I’m disappointed. Kiyu is one of the members that’s contributing a lot.”
He expressed optimism though on the draft re-nomination from the Office of the Governor.
“Yes, we have the governor to re-nominate him again,” said Lifoifoi.
The Senate last week rejected Villagomez’s nomination. Sen. Frank Q. Cruz, R-Tinian, and chairman of the Committee on Executive Appointments, told Variety earlier that the governor had been informed of this rejection owing to the Senate’s failure to act on the nomination within the 90-day period.
But the administration believed that 90-day period had not lapsed yet.
The CPA board on Friday also gave its conditional approval to the Seabridge request for homeport fees.
During the special meeting, CPA board member Benigno R. Sablan raised concern over safety as they discussed the proposal by Seabridge Inc. for homeport fees.
“I am going to ask my colleagues to help me move this agenda forward with one proviso that the executive director will again communicate with Mr. [Paul] Blas to make sure that all of those vessels, outbound and inbound, [follow] required speed.”
Blas, general manager for Seabridge, reminded the board that the policy used to be 10 nautical miles but he said the board agreed to follow the vessels’ steerage.
“Their steerage is the policy of this board,” said Sablan adding that he had communicated with the CPA executive director, Edward M. Deleon Guerrero, that the policy is not being observed.
“This is like an accident waiting to happen. I know this kind of vessels creates a huge weight and it could capsize and eventually — probably kill somebody out there,” added Sablan.
He said such accident should not happen on CPA’s guard and it should discharge its fiduciary duty.
As Sablan suggested for the board to approve the proposal, board member Barrie C. Toves raised the issue of unsettled arrears by the said company. Although CPA has provided communication to the said company on the arrears, Toves said no response has been received yet by the ports agency.
Toves suggested for Seabridge to clear outstanding arrears first.
The board voted to approve the request by Seabridge for homeport fees provided the company meets the conditions set by the CPA board.
Sablan also reminded Deleon Guerrero on the conditions of the homeport request.
Among these conditions, Variety learned, were for Seabridge to clear over $100,000 in unsettled dockage and wharfage fees and to settle all billing within 30 days upon commencement of the agreement. Failure to meet the two conditions, the CPA board ruled, will render the agreement null and void. The agreement, Variety learned, will take effect for three years.
Variety also obtained information that the company pays about $17,000 per month in dockage and wharfage fees. With CPA granting conditional approval to the Seabridge proposal, the firm may cut its costs by more than 50 percent with the homeport fees.
Sablan told the board that the firm usually pays about $200 wharfage fee a day “but with homeport fees, they will pay less.”
Based on the 2009 amended tariff rates, wharfage rates are charged $11.40 per revenue ton while wharfage for liquid petroleum products is $8.55.
Port entry fees for all vessels excluding military and government owned vessels are $220.40 for vessels 1,000 registered gross tons or les; $438.90, for vessels between 1,001 and 2,0000 registered gross tons; and $438.90 plus $220.40 for each additional 2,000 registered gross tons for vessels exceeding 2,000 r.g.t.
As for homeport fees, the rate for Saipan and Tinian are as follows: $93.10 per month, 0-25 feet long vessels; $155.80, 25-75 feet long; $475, 75-100 feet long; $636.50, 100-150 feet long; $750 for 150 feet long vessels and over.
Moreover, the Rota homeport fees are $22.80, 0-10 feet long vessels; $30.40, 10-12 feet long; and $38, 12-14 feet long.
CPA waiting for Sea-Lago Inc.
The CPA board discussed the proposal by Sea-Lago Inc. made eight months ago for a partnership with CPA in a drydocking facility.
On Aug. 6, 2010, Sarandos “Sam” L. Markos, president and chief executive officer of Sea-Lago Inc., made a $1 million boat repair facility proposal and partner with CPA to build a dry dock and boat repair facility that would be located at the South Sea plane ramp inclusive of other ramp and property not covered by Pacific Subsea and SN-5.
Markos earlier made known that the project that would require $750,000 to $1 million investments may include fuel operation setup with either of the two oil companies in the region, Mobil or IP&E and that it would generate jobs for residents.
The CPA executive director told the board that they were only waiting for SeaLago Inc. to submit the requirements explaining Sea-Lago Inc.’s planned activities in the proposed area; how big the activities are going to entail and how Sea-Lago Inc. wants the lease agreement to be executed.
CPA has yet to receive the complete packet.
“Once we received that, we can sit down and do all the legwork and come up with that,” said Deleon Guerrero.
Sablan suggested for Deleon Guerrero to communicate with Sea-Lago Inc. and request it to inform the board if the intention to use the area remains.
“My thought on this eight months ago was for revenue generation. There are still places over there where we can generate revenue,” said Sablan referring to the port.
Sablan pointed to the board the boats that have been anchored on the CPA property but have not been paying the dues. He said CPA has to check these properties and find out who are using the CPA property and communicate with them.
“I want to make sure that revenues are generated out of these properties,” Sablan said.
