Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero announced Thursday a $60 million federal grant from the Maritime Administration to replace the Port Authority of Guam's aging gantry cranes, calling the award the result of years of persistent advocacy with federal partners.
The grant, awarded through MARAD's Barret Maritime program, will fund the replacement of the port's three gantry cranes, which are scheduled to retire in 2028, 2030 and 2032. The cranes currently in use were built in 1983 and refurbished in 1990 and were never new when the port acquired them.
"This is another example of really persistent, committed, determined work with our federal partners," Leon Guerrero said. "We have never stepped aside to any of the challenges."
Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio said the grant spares ratepayers from shouldering the cost of financing the infrastructure through the capital market, which he estimated would have cost more than $4 million annually.
Port Authority General Manager Rory Respicio said the port will move to bid within weeks, adding that planning work was already underway in anticipation of the funding. He noted that securing the grant required a three-year effort with MARAD, including a waiver of Buy America provisions — a significant hurdle given that gantry cranes are not manufactured in the United States.
Guam Delegate James Moylan, who joined the announcement, credited a unified front between the governor's administration and Congress for securing the award.
"The Port Authority of Guam is our lifeline," Moylan said. "We fought, and we fought, and we fought."
Respicio said the port had previously passed a board resolution noting that if one crane goes down, it could set back the military realignment program by approximately four years.