Rota pushes east harbor project over CPA’s objection

Despite objections from the Commonwealth Ports Authority, Rota will push through with the municipality’s east harbor project as a means to jumpstart its economy.

Rota Mayor Melchor Mendiola confirmed this with the Saipan Tribune yesterday, saying the municipality wants to build the port to attract more vessels and enhance port activities on the island.

Yesterday, CNMI Procurement & Supply director Herman S. Sablan issued a request for proposals for the feasibility study and conceptual design for the development of the Rota east harbor. It has a closing date of July 6, 2011.

The local delegation had appropriated last year $25 million from the government’s 702 monies (capital improvement project funds) to build the Rota east harbor. The amount will be replenished using the port’s potential revenue.

Rota currently has only one port: the Rota west harbor.

“The island of Rota has a long history of an unsafe harbor entrance and berthing area that has hampered shipping and economic development. The Rota legislative delegation seeks to explore the feasibility of the development of the east harbor in order to provide a long-term solution to these issues,” states the request for proposal issued yesterday.

The required feasibility study will cover harbor planning, analysis and design, harbor construction permitting, financial and economic analysis, and cost estimates.

CPA had earlier described as “unwise and impractical” the idea of spending $25 million to build the east harbor. Ports authority officials had recommended that the money would better be spent in rehabilitating the breakwater at the west harbor as it would only cost $16 million to do so.

Saipan Tribune learned that the site for the planned east harbor is not CPA property but that of the Department of Public Lands and would require permits from local and federal agencies.

“But compared to the west harbor area, the east side has a calm bay, which is advisable to accommodate small and big sea vessels compared to the strong currents experienced in the west side…but we will keep the west harbor open for smaller vessels,” said Mayor Mendiola yesterday.

He said boats have a hard time going into the west harbor due to the port’s “wave activities.”

The mayor is counting on the benefits that Rota could gain from the ongoing military buildup in Guam.