August 24, 2021 — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) has announced a new Marine Highway Route between Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. This newly designated route will make certain projects eligible for grant funding through the America’s Marine Highway Program (AMHP).

One of these projects will support the movement of containers between the Port of Guam and the Commonwealth Ports Authority’s ports in Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.

“The new route and project designations are an exciting development that will benefit the people of the CNMI. By expanding our ports’ maritime capacities, we hope to reduce the shipping costs and increase the frequency of inter-island cargo and commodities,” said CPA Executive Director Chris Tenorio.

“I’d like to commend CPA’s hardworking staff in pursuing this opportunity, as well as our Port Authority of Guam partners, and of course, our point of contacts within the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration,” he added.

Since its inception, the AMHP has designated 46 Marine Highway Projects. This is the first time a Marine Highway Project has been designated within the CNMI.