This is the most important, most competitive, and most dangerous relationship that the United States has in the world right now and will have, I think, for the next decade or so.


“ ”


Nicholas Burns, US Ambassador for China.


Port Authorities stated that the most dominant manufacturers of these cranes are based in China, Japan, Austria, Finland, and Germany. Senior administration officials say while China is one key threat covered by this executive order, criminal cybersecurity concerns are also a major factor, citing Japan’s Port of Nagoya, which in July of last year was disrupted after a ransomware attack. The House of Representatives has


introduced port crane security legislation in the past, with the most recent the Port Crane Security and Inspection Act of 2023, proposed in May 2023. It would limit the use of foreign cranes and require CISA to inspect foreign cranes for potential security vulnerabilities. Since the announcement, Governor


Lou Leon Guerrero of Washington, D.C. has requested support for new cranes at the Port Authority of Guam. “Securing these cranes is imperative


for our national security. With the Biden Administration’s heightened concerns, securing funding aligned with US security policies to prevent reliance on China-manufactured equipment is crucial. The Port of Guam is critical to our national security and economic prosperity. Ensuring its operational


strength and security is a duty we uphold for our nation,” said Guerrero. The Port Authority of Guam is at a


pivotal moment, with the acquisition of three STS gantry cranes critical for sustaining its commercial and military operations. The existing cranes, acquired in 2008, are allegedly approaching the end of their service life. Port Authority documents underscore the essential role these cranes play in meeting increasing demands and supporting the Department of Defense’s Indo-Pacific Strategy and Pacific Deterrence initiatives amidst geopolitical tensions. The potential operational impact, as outlined in the Port’s planning documents, highlights the importance of an immediate crane replacement. Should one crane go out of service, the Port’s capacity to meet commercial demand and support Department of Defense missions would be significantly compromised, potentially delaying the military buildup by up to four years, the release states. “The proactive stance of Governor


Leon Guerrero, Lieutenant Governor Tenorio, and our board in emphasizing the link between port and military readiness is forward-thinking.


We are modernizing the port to the best of our financial ability and advocating for support to address infrastructure shortfalls, notably the urgent replacement of the gantry cranes,” said Rory J. Respicio, general manager, Port Authority of Guam in a statement. While in the nation’s capital, Guerrero


provided testimony to the Interagency Group on Insular Affairs, participating in the National Governors Association Winter Meeting, State Department’s Roundtable for Pacific Island Territories, and follow-up meetings with the Department of Defense at the Pentagon. To ensure progress, she is requesting


federal support for initiatives that propel the region, including funds to construct a medical complex, support for Guam’s ports and its critical infrastructure to maintain a flow of goods into the island, the reauthorization of Compact Impact funding and funds to establish a Micronesian Islands Forum Secretariat to improve Micronesian issues. According to the US ambassador to China, Nicholas Burns, who is based in Beijing, more money is leaving China for the first time in 40 years than is coming in from American, Japanese, European, Korean investors, which is a ‘real problem for the economy’.


Dockside Lift & Move Supplement | June 2024 | xiii


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