THE Port Authority of Guam is now one step closer to getting the ball rolling with needed wharf repairs after the Maritime Administration’s long-awaited risk assessment indicated PAG was right all along – waterfront facilities are not as gravely damaged as originally thought.

PAG and MARAD officials met last Friday, according to PAG board chairman Dan Tydingco. During the meeting, MARAD submitted its draft risk assessment report to PAG.

“It appears that MARAD’s findings by the engineers that they had contracted with essentially validates what our engineers proffered to us last year,” Tydingco said.

Port engineers, however, will still scan the risk assessment to see exactly what MARAD engineers have determined and what suggestions they may have made for wharf repairs.

Tydingco last week said the wharf concerns came to light after it was discovered that berths F-4, F-5 and F-6 were damaged as a result of seismic activity. An engineering assessment was conducted by PAG and it was determined that the wharf didn’t need replacement, although it was still rapidly deteriorating and maintenance repairs could extend the life of the wharf.

While MARAD was identified as the lead agency on the Port Modernization Program, the feds remained silent on moving forward with wharf repairs based on PAG’s assessment.

Tydingco said MARAD wanted to conduct its own assessment to determine whether a $50 million Department of Defense grant would be able to cover the cost of bringing the wharf up to standard. If not, MARAD indicated it may shift the funds toward upland construction at the Port. However, at least for now, MARAD officials may agree to move some of the funds toward wharf repairs for service life extension now that MARAD and Port engineers seem to agree with each other.

Tydingco said PAG may still seek a loan through the Guam Economic Development Authority, but it may not be $15 million as they had previously announced. He said PAG may deduct $5 million out of the $50 million in DOD funding for Port modernization projects and seek a $10 million loan facility for service life extension.

If everything goes well, Tydingco said PAG may release an environmental impact statement study by September this year, followed by a request for proposal to select a contractor and break ground shortly thereafter.