First supplies arrive in Guam on APL’s Oceania, Coast Guard heads for NMI to reopen ports
APL’s Oceania arrived in Guam’s port early in the afternoon of April 19, delayed a day by a buoy located out of place near the harbor entrance. According to Michelle Quidachay, general manager of APL Guam and Saipan, the ship is “carrying more than 500 containers of food, essential goods and other critical supplies.”
APL's Oceania arrived April 19 at the Port of Guam, photo courtesy of APL
She told the Journal the Oceania rode out the storm “500 miles away from the typhoon.” The ship was prepped and ready to dock, Quidachay said before the typhoon hit land. “We are just waiting for the all clear from the Coast Guard and the Port of Guam.” Quidachay
APL also expressed appreciation to the Port of Guam “for its quick response in restoring operations and preparing the port to receive cargo after the storm.
In related news, three U.S Coast Guard cutters homeported in Guam will be assisting in opening ports in the Northern Mariana Islands ports of Saipan, Rota and Tinian. According to an April 19 release, a Coast Guard dive team from Hawaii is on the ground in Guam to conduct port surveys, sonar operations, and aids-to-navigation recovery across the Mariana Islands. mbj
The Guam Visitors Bureau achieved an unmodified, clean opinion for its fiscal 2025 financial audit with zero findings, marking more than 10 consecutive years of compliance despite facing a $5.9 million decrease in its net position.
The Pacific Center for Island Security spoke out on June 7 on the inclusion in the fiscal 2026 National Defense Act of a provision to deploy a small modular reactor by 2030 to the Indo-Pacific area of command.
The United Airlines Island Hopper service for the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, plus Palau and Saipan will now be transitioned from the Boeing 737-800 to an all-MAX 8 operation by early October 2026 at the latest, instead of December, according to its route planning.
