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Ship dismantling project just suspended, says company exec
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Posted on Dec 19 2011
By Moneth Deposa
Reporter
Reporter
Worldwide Salvage Saipan, the company that had wanted to set up a ship disposal program in the CNMI, said that it is still willing to pursue its investment in the CNMI “once all things are settled” with its plans.
David Sablan, the company’s vice-president for administration, told Saipan Tribune in an email that the project has just been suspended. He declined to specify the reason behind the suspension.
“The company’s office in California is still actively pursuing the project. Saipan is still our preferred dismantling location,” Sablan said in his email, adding that the project was never cancelled but is suspended for now.
Commonwealth Ports Authority acting board chair Manny Villagomez recently disclosed that Worldwide Salvage Saipan’s planned investment at the Saipan seaport may not push through after the company cancelled its lease agreement with CPA.
Sablan admitted that the company lost its lease agreement with CPA for dock space and warehouse but said they will find and lease other existing warehouses at the port or build one within or outside the port once they are ready to reactivate the project.
He said the company may not need the dock space anyway if it proceeds with a new plan to have a floating dock instead.
It was in late 2009 when Worldwide Salvage Saipan LLC approached CPA with a proposal to build a $16 million ship disposal facility in the CNMI. They wanted to tow old ships from California, Texas, and Virginia to the island for dismantling, after which the parts would be sold off island. The CPA board now considers the plan “inactive” after more than a year of waiting for the project to push through.
