Port Authority of Guam designated as strategic port

There's major news out of the nation's capitol as the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command approved the Port Authority of Guam's designation as a strategic port. The port's designation as a strategic port will help the agency to receive federal funding to modernize its infrastructure and cargo handling.

Port officials, along with Adelup, have been working to secure this designation over the last several months. Strategic military seaport designations are assigned to those U.S. seaports that the Department of Defense intends to utilize for the quick movement of military equipment and personnel overseas in times of crisis, and for military exercises. Our local port is now the 16th commercial strategic seaport in the United States. The announcement of the strategic port designation comes two weeks after General Duncan J. McNabb, commander of U.S. Transportation Command, was on island touring our local facilities.

Meanwhile, Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo has supported this designation and included language in the Fiscal Year 10 National Defense Authorization Act, which urged the DoD to establish additional strategic ports, including the Port of Guam. The congresswoman added that this will benefit our community as the military buildup will increase the volume of traffic at the port and resources will be needed to help the agency meet future demand.

Monte Mesa, chairman of the Port Authority's board of directors, told KUAM News, "This is of great importance to the Port of Guam. The designation reinforces and validates the master plan that was approved by the legislature and the governor. This validates the importance of Guam itself as the tip of the spear in terms of national security. This is a strong message of support from the Department of Defense." Mesa also said, "This gives us priority on allocation of federal funds to improve the Port's modernization to ensure movement of cargo for both the local community and the military, to ensure it moves safely, effectively and without delay."