Port Authority of Guam directors have authorized a multi-step bid process to replace the port’s aging gantry cranes, the port authority announced in a Nov. 3 newsletter.
The board’s action authorized Port General Manager Rory J. Respicio to issue an invitation for a bid structured to procure up to three new gantry cranes, contingent on funding.
This would allow the port flexibility to initially acquire one, two or three cranes that meet rigorous specifications, including cybersecurity measures and storm resilience to withstand Guam’s extreme weather conditions, the report said.
According to the announcement in the newsletter, the port’s current cranes, which were acquired second-hand in 2009 and are more than 40 years old, pose a risk to commercial and military logistics.
And with the cranes nearing the end of their service life, the port’s capacity to manage cargo effectively is at stake, especially amid rising geopolitical tension, the report said.
An analysis completed in October emphasized the importance of upgrading these cranes to meet rising throughput demands and support national security objectives.
Without further federal support, the port may only be able to purchase one crane, according to the report.
“Current funds may only cover one crane, but failing to pursue every option to acquire at least three and ideally four ship-to-shore gantry cranes would significantly impact the port’s operational resilience and strategic (importance),” Respicio said.
“Our efforts to secure new cranes are integral to Guam’s role as a reliable logistics hub for commerce and the military, now more than ever amid geopolitical tension,” he added.
