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Rota mayor off to Louisiana to check on cargo/passenger ship for island
Rota Mayor Melchor Mendiola is on his way to Louisiana to check and finish up on certifications for a $1.6-million retrofitted cargo and passenger ship that will help bring both passengers and cargo to and from Rota, Saipan, Tinian, Guam, and the Northern Islands.
In an interview yesterday evening, Sen. Victor Hocog (Ind-Rota) disclosed that Mendiola had gone to Boise, Idaho and from there he would fly to Louisiana to finish up certifications that needs to be worked on.
The certifications that need to be worked on are the requirements of rescue and passenger boats that will be on the ship.
Hocog said that it is possible that he will be hearing from Mendiola this Friday.
“Once the certification is done then we’re ready to go,” Hocog said.
In an earlier interview, Hocog said that the 150-foot, 500-ton cargo ship will be highly needed on Rota in terms of bringing in food and supplies and ferrying passengers to and from Rota.
Luta Mermaid LLC owner Takahisa Yamamoto made this possible investing a minimum of $1.6 million for the ship as reported earlier.
This ship can accommodate 18 passengers and carry up to 28 20-ft. containers.
Hocog earlier also said that it will be great for Rota’s long-standing problems of shortage on food and other commodities every time the barge cannot reach Rota due to rough waters.
