The Port Authority of Guam has reached another major milestone in its recovery from the October 2, 2026 high-wind incident, with Gantry Crane 5 successfully passing its load test and receiving conditional certification to resume cargo operations. The milestone marks the return to service of all three gantry cranes affected by the incident.
Gantry Crane 5 received conditional certification following inspections and successful load testing, allowing the crane to be used for cargo loading and unloading operations alongside vessels. Under the conditional certification, the crane may perform stationary cargo operations but cannot travel along the dock rails under its own power. Port employees can manually reposition the crane along the rails as needed to support vessel operations.
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The conditional certification allows the Port to utilise Gantry Crane 5 for cargo handling while Port mechanics complete additional repairs, including the replacement of motors required for the crane’s independent movement along the rails. This approach enables the Port to restore additional cargo handling capacity without waiting for the remaining mechanical work to be completed.
The return of Gantry Crane 5 follows the restoration of Gantry Crane 4 on October 5 and Gantry Crane 6 on October 14. All three cranes were affected when strong winds dislodged Gantry Crane 6 from its secured position on October 2, causing it to travel along the dock and make contact with Gantry Cranes 5 and 4.
“This is another significant achievement for our Port Strong workforce and the technical partners who have worked tirelessly to restore our gantry cranes,” said Port General Manager Rory Respicio. “In less than three weeks, we have brought all three cranes back into cargo operations following an incident that temporarily sidelined our entire gantry crane fleet. The conditional certification of Gantry Crane 5 allows us to put this critical equipment back to work while our mechanics complete the remaining repairs. Our employees have demonstrated tremendous determination and resilience, and their efforts are helping ensure that Guam’s supply chain remains strong.”
Hawaii-based Doc Bailey Cranes & Equipment has been conducting crane inspections and recertification as part of the recovery effort. Port mechanics continue working to complete the remaining repairs necessary to restore Gantry Crane 5’s full mobility and obtain unrestricted certification.
Meanwhile, the US Coast Guard Captain of the Port (COTP) has restored the Port of Guam to normal operating status under Port Heavy Weather Condition (PHWC) WHISKEY, marking another significant step in the Port’s recovery following Typhoon Champi.
The return to regular WHISKEY follows the Coast Guard’s establishment of modified PHWC WHISKEY on October 19, which permitted commercial vessel traffic but restricted vessel movements within the harbour to daylight hours only while navigational aids and harbour conditions were being assessed. With the recent return to normal WHISKEY conditions, the daylight-only restriction has been lifted, allowing vessels to enter, depart, and transit the harbour during both daytime and night time hours.
Port personnel also continue conducting post-storm assessments of facilities, equipment, marinas, waterfront infrastructure, and operational areas to identify and address damage caused by Typhoon Champi. These assessments are taking place alongside ongoing cargo operations, ensuring that recovery efforts do not unnecessarily interrupt the movement of goods.
Cargo handling operations continue at the waterfront, with containers being unloaded from vessels and released through the Port’s gatehouse for delivery to businesses and residents throughout Guam. The gatehouse, which reopened at 8:00 a.m. on October 19 following the storm, continues facilitating the movement of essential supplies and commercial goods into the community.
To further support cargo movement, the Port Authority of Guam will provide Open Gate access during the lunch hour from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 21, and Thursday, October 22, 2026. This additional access will provide shipping agents, carriers, and truckers greater flexibility to retrieve essential cargo and sustain freight movement throughout the island. No Special Service Requests (SSR) will be required for terminal access during these designated lunch periods.
With all three gantry cranes now available for cargo operations, the return to normal WHISKEY conditions, and additional gatehouse access to support cargo releases, the Port Authority of Guam continues strengthening its ability to service vessels and maintain the steady flow of goods into the community while completing remaining equipment repairs and post-storm assessments.