Port hopeful Guam's defense role will deliver gantry crane funding

The Port Authority is banking on Guam’s strategic importance to regional and national defense to get funding for three much-needed new gantry cranes. And the Port says it got a big boost from a letter received today that shows there is bipartisan support in Congress.

The letter is from Representative Joe Wilson, a longtime member of the House Armed Services Committee, and a republican.  He’s visited Guam several times, and was a close colleague, says Port general manager Rory Respicio, of former Guam delegate Madeleine Bordallo, who sought out his support.

"In that conversation we talked about the need to replace three gantry cranes, to harden our wharves, to replace existing facilities and Congressman Wilson as other congresspeople in our discussions was very receptive," Respicio explained.

Wilson wrote to Indo-Pacific commander Admiral John Aquilino about Guam’s critical importance to the Pacific Deterrence Initiative and as a nexus that enables power projection across the region. He urged him to look into the Port’s plan. Respicio believes the letter will help kickstart discussions, telling KUAM News, "Our communication with them is instead of building capacity on the navy side look to the port authority of Guam and build our capacity here."

"This letter, as you can see, is priceless," Respicio continued. "Priceless in terms of how Congressman Wilson is just asking the admiral: is the Port Authority of Guam ready?"

Or at the very least, he hopes it’s worth some $45 million, which is the price tag for the three new gantry cranes the Port wants.