The Marshall Islands President David Kabua has described the Majuro terminal as being in "bad shape" and "dangerous for the public."
A two-year-old engineering report that declared the main airport terminal in the capital, Majuro to be unsafe but was not acted on became a major topic of discussion at parliament, with the government moving develop a temporary fix to the problems.
The terminal at Amata Kabua International Airport poses a "high risk to the general public and those utilizing the facility." This was the conclusion of an engineering review of the airport facilities conducted in the Marshall Islands capital nearly two years ago but never acted on by either the Marshall Islands Ports Authority or the national government until earlier this week.
President David Kabua brought up the concern about the airport terminal and discussed the report by Hawaii-Based engineering firm Pryzm Consulting at several Nitijela (parliament) sessions last week.
He described the terminal as being in "bad shape" and "dangerous for the public." He pointed out that the Pryzm report was issued in February 2020. Because of the urgency of the problem, the President had his staff provide the report for distribution to all Nitijela members.
"The Main Terminal Building requires immediate attention based on the inspection and analysis performed," said the February 2020 Pryzm report. "The primary load carrying beams are deemed inadequate and pose a high risk of structural failure. There is a high risk to the general public and those utilizing facility."
The United Airlines check in area at Amata Kabua International Airport in Majuro: the airline recently vacated its office behind the check in area due to safety hazards and a just-discovered two-year-old engineering report confirms the main terminal roof poses a danger of collapse. Photo: Eve Burns
Pryzm engineers identified termite damage and live termite activity in various support beams as the main hazards.
One essential support beam in the main terminal had, as of February 2020, lost over half of its load carrying capacity. This beam is a primary support for the terminal roof and the "roof framing …is a non-redundant load carry system" - meaning the roof structure is largely dependent on this one support beam. As a result, "This area may be subject to collapse depending on the extent of the termite distress," the report said.
The President said the Pryzm report showed that the terminal needs immediate action. He added that it could be a big liability for the Marshall Islands government if there was a problem with the roof. He also noted that United Airlines had already moved out of its main office at the terminal because of safety problems with the facility.
United Airlines vacated its office in the main terminal in November after when an employee fell through the termite damaged second floor. United officials said they had been communicating with the Ports Authority for many months about the deteriorating condition of the office area.
The President mentioned that there is a Japan aid project in the pipeline to build an additional water reservoir near the airport as well as one for funding a new airport terminal. He suggested the need to discuss with the Japan government the possibility of advancing both projects in light of the condition of the terminal.
Following distribution of this engineering report several days ago, Public Works Minister Jiba Kabua said he and his ministry's engineers had already met with Ports Authority and local contractors to discuss options for action on the facility. They are looking at a temporary renovation that can improve safety of the facility until the Japan airport terminal project moves into gear in the future.
Foreign Minister Casten Nemra updated Nitijela on discussions he held with Japan Ambassador Kazunari Tanaka in the wake of the President's comments and release of the Pryzm report. Nemra said the ambassador recognized the importance of the terminal project and the current situation of the terminal that needs to be renewed. Nemra said he would be working with the ambassador on the matter.