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CPA inks agreement with barge company
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Posted on Apr 14 2006
The Commonwealth Ports Authority has signed an agreement with a company for a multi-million barge manufacturing venture on Saipan.
CPA consultant Carlos H. Salas said in an interview this week that the agency and STA Ocean Shipbuilding Marianas Inc. signed the agreement in January this year.
The company is represented locally by businessman Anthony Pellegrino, who earlier rejected the CPA’s proposed 3-percent gross profit fee for the use of seaport property.
Pellegrino had said that 3 percent of the gross profit seemed too high, considering that each barge was priced at about $12 million.
Details concerning the fee are not yet available.
STA Ocean intends to construct large ocean-going barges at the Port of Saipan.
The company has proposed to renovate the North Seaplane Ramp at a cost of over $700,000 and convert it into a barge-building facility.
STA Ocean is seeking a 15-year lease agreement with CPA.
Pellegrino’s partner, marine superintendent and Lloyd’s agent Gary L. Naftel, said earlier that his plan is to set up a grassroots production yard for constructing sea-going barges certified by the American Bureau of Shipping and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Naftel said there is currently a great demand for such barges throughout the United States.
He cited that five major barge manufacturers, one on the West Coast, three in the Gulf, and one on the Atlantic “are booked up for the next three years for start dates in laying keels.”
The company said the barge manufacturing yard would not conflict with the construction of a drydock facility at the Saipan harbor.
