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Eastport Maine
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January 23, 2014
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Breakwater bids higher than expected
by Edward French

 

    The Eastport Port Authority is planning to scale back on the scope of the breakwater rebuilding project, by eliminating at least for now a wave-protection wall, as the lowest bid for the project is $5.5 million higher than the current amount of funding. Bids were opened on January 14, and CMP Constructors of Freeport is the apparent low bidder at $18.5 million. However, federal, state and local funding commitments total only $13 million, with an additional $1 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding being sought by the city.
     To reduce the cost of the project, Port Director Chris Gardner, at the port authority board's January 20 meeting, proposed that the sheet-pile wall from the new breakwater to the southern dolphin be temporarily dropped from the project, which would result in savings of $3.5 million. That would still leave the project a million dollars short, even with the CDBG funding, and Gardner is hoping that state or federal monies can make up the difference.
     The wall had been proposed to protect boats in the inner basin, as the removal of the existing 1962 breakwater will open up a 60-foot exposure to southeast winds. One option that will be explored instead is to string a series of large Yokohama marine fenders along the 120-foot distance to act as a wave break, although it was noted that deeper swells would still affect the inner basin.
     Fisherman Scott Emery said the proposed fenders would help, but he described it as being like constructing "a three-sided building. There would still be a lot of damage with the swells."
     Board member Bob Peacock said the proposal is being viewed as "an interim fix" until more funding can be obtained. "This would allow us to get this built," said Gardner, adding that perhaps the wall could be constructed later when additional funding is obtained. The board agreed with the rescoping of the project in order to move it forward.
     Only four bids had been received, with CPM Constructors' bid being just $150,000 less than the $18.66 million bid from Cianbro Corporation. The other bidders were Reed & Reed Inc. at $22.72 million and Fundy Contractors Inc. at $24.86 million. The engineer's estimate on the cost was for $13.99 million.
     The Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) is giving an engineering review of the bids before it recommends a formal awarding to CPM Constructors, which is headed up by Perry native Eldon Morrison. The port authority has 30 days before the award has to be made.
     Gardner says the port authority will work with MDOT on how to proceed and with federal agencies to find more funding. "I don't believe this will alter our timeline," says Gardner. "We want to start ASAP." Work may begin in March or April, and the contract calls for the project to be completed by May 15, 2017.

Taxi service and cruise ship visits
     Along with discussion of the breakwater bids, the port authority board, at its January 20 meeting, also looked at getting into other types of transportation. With the port authority now responsible for the services provided by the ship's agent, Gardner brought up the possibility of acquiring a second-hand SUV to transport crews from the port to the Bangor airport, when a crew change takes place. Previously the transportation had been outsourced. It was noted that Eastport is often the last stop before ships head to China, so the crews sometimes are changed. If the vehicle costs $5,000, Gardner thought the port authority could cover the cost through savings within a year. Existing staff could drive the vehicle. Gardner noted that the SUV would be used only for ship's agent functions.
     Owners of the Pearl Mist cruise ship would like the vessel to make six visits to Eastport this year, and the port authority will look at possibly using a tender to bring passengers ashore from an anchored ship, since the breakwater cannot be used and the ship is too large to be docked at the fish pier. Also, the board authorized Gardner to attend the Miami Seatrade cruise ship convention in March.

Office building nearly completed
     The new port authority office building is nearly completed, at a cost so far of just over $500,000. Original estimates had been for $200,000 and then had increased to $300,000. Gardner noted that the total cost includes groundwork and the new parking lots.
     Concerning berthing at the finger piers at the breakwater, more than 10 boat owners have been able to obtain insurance with a "hold harmless" provision, allowing them to tie up their vessels there, until the construction project begins. They need a minimum of indemnity insurance of $400,000 for boats under 50 feet and of $1 million for boats over 50 feet. The building of a new float system at Broad Cove for the fishing boats may not happen until the spring.
     The board discussed in executive session concerns about the port authority providing a guarantee on a $1.8 million loan from Key Leasing to Phyto-Charter LLC, which will use the funds to acquire phytosanitation equipment for wood chips that will be shipped through the port. Gardner felt the requirements from Key Leasing were excessive.
     Discussions between the port authority and officials at Pleasant Point and Perry about the possibility of a new bridge to Eastport are taking place. An economic study is proceeding, with the state possibly covering about $15,000 of the cost and the port authority perhaps having to provide $5,000.
     The board adopted two policies related to the ship's agent governing check and cash functions.
     While the tonnage shipped through the port last year was disappointing, at 259,600 metric tons, Al Day, manager of Federal Marine Terminals, noted that 42,000 tons will be shipped just during January this year. "There's less pessimism than there was," he said. He mentioned that another shipping company that previously has done business at the port is interested in returning.
     Gardner related that an estimate on the service provided by the port authority to the city for the past year amounts to about $12,000. Richard Clark, an employee of the port authority, spent 155 hours working for the school department, much of it rebuilding and installing boilers, and another 40 hours working at city buildings.
      A 2014 performance review prepared by board members notes that the port authority's net assets remain nearly the same, at $27.3 million. The new warehouse and office building will add approximately $2 million more to the value of the assets. The port authority's checking account balance has dropped from about $725,000 to $439,000, with cash used for the new office building and breakwater work. The operating revenues also have dropped, from $1.76 million to $1.12 million, because of the downturn in the tonnage shipped.
     The board reelected the following officers: Jett Peterson, president; John Sullivan, vice president; Bob Peacock, secretary; and Dean Pike, treasurer.

January 23, 2015    (Home)     

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