The Tango Wharf extension ribbon-cutting ceremony on U.S. Naval Base Guam (NBG), was conducted Dec. 18 to celebrate the improvements in infrastructure and capabilities the base can provide to support the Navy’s mission.
The purpose for the extension to the wharf was to provide infrastructure, improvements and utilities for cold iron berthing for transient ships such as those within an Amphibious Readiness Group, its combatant escort ships and the Joint High Speed Vessel.
Capt. Andy Anderson, commanding officer, NBG, said:
You look at this wharf and what it will provide, with regards to the Joint High Speed Vessel, with regards to the Amphibious Ready Group, and with the pivot to the Pacific.
This is an incredible asset that will allow us to project power forward from the sovereign territory of the United States of America.
The cold iron berthing would give ships the capability to connect to an electrical power source at the wharf that allows the ship to turn off its main and auxiliary engines. These improvements are necessary to support the relocation of the III Marine Expeditionary Forces from Okinawa, Japan, to Guam.
A 1993 earthquake struck the island and damaged Tango Wharf, leaving the structure unusable. A previous project repaired part of the wharf, however approximately 315 feet remained unimproved.
NAVFAC Marianas awarded the contract to Overland Federal and HNTB Corporation Nov. 28, 2012. The project was completed Sept. 30, with a final cost of $14.9 million.
The new Tango Wharf has new mooring and berthing systems, and utilities and wharf storm drainage systems as well as structural improvements that can resist seismic and typhoon conditions.
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Press release, Image: US Navy