Leaders Break Ground on Mike-November Wharf Modernization

NAVAL BASE GUAM (Aug. 8, 2023) - Joint Region Marianas Chief-of-Staff Capt. Michael Smith, U.S. Naval Base (NBG) Commanding Officer Capt. Michael Luckett, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Marianas Commanding Officer Capt. Troy Brown, NAVFAC Marianas Facilities Engineering and Acquisition Division (FEAD) Director Lt. Cmdr. Ryan Sawyer, and Senior Project Manager Chuck Lowther broke ground at the site of the Mike and November wharves, onboard NBG Aug. 8.

The groundbreaking ceremony initiates the repair and modernization of both wharves. NAVFAC Marianas awarded a $138 million firm-fixed-price contract to H2O Guam, JV, Aiea, Hawaii to repair the wharves.

"A good pier, with all the fittings working and all the supply services ready, empowers the fleet and empowers the port operations teams to be able to support the fleet," Smith said in his remarks. "By doing this project we're going to empower the base operators, the fleet, and the maintainers, the greater flexibility to get the mission done."

The work includes demolition and comprehensive civil, structural, mechanical, and electrical utilities; cathodic protection; fire protection; mooring and berthing; and telecommunications systems repair. In addition, new site lighting, safety ladders, and oil boom slide rails will be provided.

"I've seen the growth in the mission out here and the huge demand that has been placed on port facilities and port operations here to support our Navy as well as our partners and allies in the region,” Luckett said. “This project is absolutely critical to improving our capacity and capability to support the fleet. We are the busiest Navy port in the Western Pacific and the third busiest port in the entire Navy."

Both wharves were in use for approximately 75 years. During that time, naval technology and ship capabilities advanced and over time nature took its toll on the properties, eventually rendering the wharves inactive.

“In order for us to deliver the capabilities and capacities we need to for the fleet, we have to turn that around as quickly as possible and I know with our partners, we’re going to be able to do that,” Brown said. "This project is key to the delivery of other projects that are nested in our out year's plan behind it,"

The wharves not only hold a vital significance in ship berthing and repair, but also to fulfill the Navy's mission in the Pacific.