Apra Harbor Glass Breakwater construction starts early; GAO report details plans for military health care

A critical project for Guam’s that was damaged during Typhoon Mawar in May 2023 began April 1.

Some three months early, the Glass Breakwater at Apra Harbor has started, according to Naval Facilities Engineering and Systems Command Marianas.

Glass Breakwater construction site. Photo courtesy of NavFac Marianas.

The $571.08 million project kicked off, with Rear Adm. Gregory C. Huffman, commander, Joint Task Force-Micronesia; Rear Adm. Brent DeVore, commander, Joint Region Marianas; and Capt. Troy Brown, commander of NAVFAC Marianas at the site.

“To ensure construction safety, the contractor has deployed two nearshore buoys that provide three-day wave forecasts. Typhoon readiness plans are also in place to protect personnel and equipment during storm conditions,” NAVFAC Marianas said.

The project was due to begin in August after it was awarded to a Tutor Perini NAN Joint Venture in October. It then sustained a protest, which the U.S. Government Accountability Office rejected, according to Journal files.

Tutor Perini is the managing partner in the joint venture and the parent company of Black Construction Corp. Black Construction previously was awarded repair work on the breakwater in 2012, according to Journal files.

The Breakwater project is scheduled to be completed in July 2029.

In other military-related news, GAO released April 3 a report on Department of Defense “Actions to address challenges with accessing health care in Japan and Guam.”

“In Guam, DOD-affiliated civilians and families face capacity challenges in accessing care with local providers. Commonly cited challenges include failing infrastructure, limited health care professionals, and geographic remoteness. DOD has worked with Guamanian* partners to attempt to lease land to build a new public hospital, has provided funding to upgrade existing public medical facilities, and plans to expand military medical facility capacity as the active-duty population grows on the island. DOD also has a working group to address issues that may continue to arise, given its planned growth of the civilian population on Guam,” the GAO report said.

The report, which detailed shortcomings at Guam Memorial Hospital, also referred to plans to increase care for military personnel.

“ … a working group recently recommended approximately 244 additional staff at the hospital to meet demand from new growth through 2037. Additionally, senior officials told us DOD will open a new military medical facility at Camp Blaz in fall 2025 that will serve active duty service members only, providing capacity to the overall health care ecosystem on Guam,” the report said.

*GAO is referring to an effort by the Government of Guam and the U.S. Navy on the island to utilize DoD land in Mangilao.

The GAO report did not address past problems at the Department of Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic which had Naval Hospital Guam designated a specialty care partner.

And lastly, the crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Oliver Henry rescued two mariners adrift near Namoluk Atoll in the Federated States of Micronesia on March 29, according to an April 5 release. The Oliver Henry is homeported in Guam. mbj

Apra Harbor Glass Breakwater construction starts early; GAO report details plans for military health care