Senator Amanda Shelton, Oversight Chair for Maritime Transportation, and Senator Jesse A. Lujan met with General Manager Rory J. Respicio on January 19, 2023. The courtesy visit and tour was to brief the Senators on Port Operations, ongoing projects and future initiatives to garner their support as the agency’s new oversight chair and co-chair.

Areas of discussion touched on the Port’s importance and significance to the region, current capacity, federal partners and funding resources. Management shared a list of completed projects from 2007 to 2018 as well as ongoing projects.

Respicio provided a video presentation of the Port’s way forward and the plan for resiliency and readiness initiatives. This included the 2022 PAG Master Plan Update, Hotel Warf Rehabilitation, Upgrade, Crane Demolition, Crane Acquisition Program, Wharves Service Life Extension, F1 Pier and Golf Pier Fuel Pipeline Connectivity Project, Rehabilitation of Area A Fuel Storage Facility, OLDCC funded In-Water Infrastructure Study, Guam/CNMI Regional Resiliency Assessment Report, and PAG/PUGG/Customs Port Community System. Management also shared the PAG submission of a grant application to MARAD’s FY22 MEGA Grant Program for three (3) STS gantry cranes in the amount of $48 Million. Respicio was joined by Deputy General Manager Dominic Muna, Corporate Services Manager Vivian Leon, Legal Counsels James Canto and Christine Arriola, and Chief Planner Joe Javellana.

The Port team discussed the agency’s next steps and challenges including the replacement of STS gantry cranes, hardening of Port wharves and infrastructure, and replacement of aged buildings. The management team also discussed the importance and need for strong collaboration with the Legislature to work together to garner support in the agency’s mission to move forward with ongoing projects and future initiatives.