Company Overview & History

Founded by a dedicated group of Saipanese businessmen, Saipan Stevedore was the first Micronesian Terminal operator and stevedoring company in the Trust Territory of the Pacific. Before Saipan Stevedore began, terminal operations were carried out by the Saipan Shipping Company.

As there was no warehouse at Saipan’s port in the early 1960’s, goods were received and distributed right from the dock. Unloading and loading of vessels was a difficult and slow task done by hand cart and small second-hand fork lift.

In 1963, the Trust Territory government recognized the need for improvements to the port. They began the upgrade Charlie Dock. A new warehouse was finally built, which for the first time provided much-needed protection from the sun and weather.

In late 1963 the stockholders of the Saipan Shipping Company recognized the potential that existed for independent stevedoring company. They also saw this new venture as a way to resolve ongoing conflicts between carriers and terminal operators. Funds were appropriated from Saipan Shipping to create Saipan Stevedore as a separate company. A new board of directors and officers were selected. Saipan Stevedore’s charter was approved by the TT High Commissioner in January of 1964 in arrangement to privatize terminal and stevedoring operations. The small business soon began in the same year with just 20 employees.

As the need for stevedoring services grew wit the economy of Saipan, so did Saipan Stevedore. The company President remembers the growth of the company by various equipment purchases. From the first 5-ton fork lift to 22-ton lift, then a 25 ton capacity to a 40-ton capacity fork lift, Saipan Stevedore grew steadily throughout the years. Most recently, the company has acquired a 50-ton crane, with five new tractors and chassis for hauling containers.

In 1987, Saipan Stevedore began to support the Island of Tinian port, handling tuna transshipments with equipment and terminal operators. Tinian Marine Stevedore, Inc. was formed as a separate company in a joint venture co-owned by Saipan Stevedore.