By Navy Region Hawaii Public Affairs
Agreement enables off-loading of commercial vessels in Pearl Harbor
PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM – The State of Hawaii, the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy will hold a signing ceremony and bless a new mobile crane that significantly adds to the state’s readiness in the event of a natural disaster. The acquisition of the $3 million crane has been a collaborative effort among the State of Hawaii, industry, port partners, and the U.S. military to establish an alternate port to enable cargo off-loading at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam if Honolulu Harbor were rendered inoperable.
Cargo off-loading at Honolulu Harbor provides more than 80 percent of all commodity goods necessary to the survival of those who live in Hawaii. During hurricanes and other catastrophic events, Honolulu Harbor is vulnerable to the tidal effects of the Pacific Ocean due to lack of physical land barriers to protect the harbor. Recognizing this vulnerability, the State of Hawaii, industry and port partners secured funding through a Port Security Grant Program to acquire a mobile crane to be used at Pearl Harbor in time of need.
The mobile crane is the key for enabling immediate off-loading operations. The signing of this “Memorandum of Understanding,” in recognition of the acquisition of this mobile crane and the hard work on the alternate port concept, serves as the tangible result of the outstanding joint effort undertaken to protect and serve Hawaii’s citizens and increase port reconstitution and resiliency throughout the State of Hawaii.
Event: Alternate Port Memorandum of Understanding and Crane Blessing Ceremony
Date/Time: Monday, Oct. 6, 2014, 11 a.m. to noon
Location: Kilo 8 Pier, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam
Special Guests:
• Gov. Neil Abercrombie, Governor, State of Hawaii
• Maj. Gen. Darryl Wong, Adjutant General, Hawaii National Guard
• Rear Adm. Cari Thomas, Commander, Fourteenth Coast Guard District
• Rear Adm. Bret Muilenburg, Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Pacific
• Rear Adm. Rick Williams, Commander, Navy Region Hawaii/Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific