The Port Authority of Guam has initiated a formal review of the Oct. 2 high-wind incident involving three gantry cranes to examine how the cranes were secured, when and how instructions were given and carried out, and whether there were any deviations from instructions.
The review comes as the Port reports Gantry Crane 6 was locked in position and secured based on guidance and procedures in place ahead of the weather incident. Though Guam was not under a tropical storm or typhoon watch or warning at the time of the incident, the Port’s crane wind gauges recorded winds of approximately 100 mph.
“The Port has not characterized the incident as either a procedural failure or mechanical malfunction as the technical assessment remains ongoing. The recorded wind speed provides context regarding the conditions experienced by the cranes as the Port works to determine exactly how Gantry 6 became dislodged,” the Port said Tuesday.
National Weather Service Guam officials who visited the Port following the incident told Guam News Network they did not have data to support the 100 mph winds reported by the Port but did note that a review of security footage confirmed a “powerful squall” at the time Gantry 6 was dislodged, pushed it down the rail system and made contact with Gantry 5 and 4.
“We are collecting and compiling as much wind data as we can from a variety of sensors to pull the information and look at the gust and as noted we've seen those wind gusts of 63 mph across southern Guam and 61 mph here at the Guam Airport, we're also looking at the balloon ... data. What was the atmosphere doing just above the surface on Friday, Friday evening, Friday night and Saturday,” Aydlett said Monday.
On Wednesday, the Port said the internal review will also look at “weather information available throughout the day and evening, decisions made at the supervisory, operational, safety, and management levels and whether established procedures and specific management directions were followed.”
As of Wednesday, the Port completed assessments of Gantry 6 and said it had been deemed safe to proceed with lowering its boom.
“If no additional discrepancies are identified during gantry startup, the crane could be ready to boom down as early as this afternoon. Gantry 5 also remains under repair, inspection, and technical assessment. Both Gantries 5 and 6 are back on the rail system,” the Port said Wednesday.
Since the weather event, the Port has been in recovery mode while simultaneously maintaining cargo operations.
The Port is currently operating with Gantry 4 and coordinating vessel activity with its shipping partners.
“The Matson Islander was serviced as scheduled, and Lurline operations proceeded as planned. APL remains in the same vessel lineup and is expected tomorrow morning but is waiting for berth availability because both vessels cannot be accommodated on the wharf at the same time,” the Port said.
Working with only one gantry crane, the Port acknowledged that scheduled movement has seen some timing adjustments as normal during a recovery period involving a major incident.
“At the same time, the same vessel lineup has been maintained, cargo continues moving through the Port, and we are making measurable progress toward restoring additional crane capacity,” Respicio said.
As of 4 p.m. Monday through Oct. 7, the Port had discharged 504 units of cargo, including 283 containers and 221 pieces of break-bulk cargo, and released 116 units to the community.
“Container discharges included 205 full imports and 78 transshipments, while break-bulk cargo included 210 automobiles and 11 pieces of heavy equipment. Of the cargo released, 63 were containers and 53 were break-bulk units, including 52 automobiles and one piece of heavy equipment. The figures demonstrate that cargo has continued moving through the Port throughout the recovery effort despite operating with reduced gantry crane capacity,” the Port said.
The Port said it has completed an emergency procurement for temporary crane capacity. Though the temporary crane is available if needed, deployment costs will not be incurred unless the option is activated.
“At this time, deployment is not necessary because Gantry 4 is operational and, at the carrier’s request, the Port is continuing operations without bringing in the temporary crane. The temporary crane remains available should operational conditions change,” the Port said.
