Guam wins MarAd agreement of port improvement plan

Guam wins MarAd agreement of port improvement plan Maritime Administrator Sean Connaughton signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of Guam and the Guam Port Authority to authorize federal oversight of a modernization plan for the island's commercial port.
   Under the MOU, MarAd's assistance will range from permitting to procurement to training of port authority staff. While the MOU does not guarantee any federal funding for improvements, the elevation of the Guam port concerns to a federal level is expected to facilitate future funding requests from the Guam government.
   Similar legislative arrangements for Alaska and Hawaii have led to speedy improvements at ports in both states.
   Port officials have repeatedly pointed out that MOU does not turn control of the port over to the U.S. government.
   Scott Davis, MarAd program manager, told GuamPDN.com last week, 'We are here to support and execute this project. We’ve been invited and if we’re asked to leave, we will gladly back out. It’s for the benefit of the port.'
   Davis predicted the agreement would be a major milestone for Guam.