Port approves $12M crane purchase

by Ken Quintanilla

Guam - The Port Authority of Guam voted to approve the purchase of three Matson- and Horizon-owned POLA cranes along with an additional gantry crane for $12 million. During this afternoon's special meeting, the board moved to approve the sales agreement and the interim maintenance agreement of the cranes.

However, Vice Speaker B.J. Cruz, who was in attendance, raised concerns about the deal read before members relative to conditions of the cranes citing a consultant's report which detailed the conditions and repairs needs for the cranes. "I think it was written in the bias to try and convince the board that this was the best deal possible," he explained. "I understand that the purchase agreement that you guys have, they're making some repairs and the exhibit that's in the purchase agreement, they've only made like $85,000 of repairs, and you still have $9 million outstanding. How's that a good idea?" 

The agreement meanwhile is not a done deal as its still subject to financing from the USDA and general approval and approval relative to a tariff surcharge from the Public Utilities Commission, which will most likely be heard at the PUC's meeting next month.