Chinese Government provides RMB 14.5 million grant for Chief Malio Cargo-Passenger Ship Repair Project (Linked to Record ID#64190)

In 2004 and 2007, the Chinese Government donated two cargo-passenger ships to Micronesia: the Chief Mailo and the Hapimohol 1 (as captured via Record ID#64190 and #40029). Both needed repairs within a few years.

On June 8, 2006, the Foreign Assistance Project Bid Board of China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) selected Wuhan Nanhua High-speed Ship Engineering Co., Ltd. to implement the Chief Malio Cargo-Passenger Ship Repair Project.

Then, on April 17, 2009, Chinese and Micronesian government officials signed an exchange of letters in which the Chinese Government committed RMB 14.5 million ($2.1 million USD) of grant funding for the Chief Malio Cargo-Passenger Ship Repair Project.

As of January 2010, President Mori had transmitted the receipt of foreign financial assistance for Congressional approval. The legislature then passed a resolution accepting the Chinese Government grant on February, 10, 2010.

The purpose of the project was to repair the Chief Malio Cargo-Passenger Vessel docked at the port in Weno in Chuuk State.

On December 11, 2009, FSM Foreign Minister Lorraine Roberts signed a project implementation agreement with Wuhan Nanhua Express Ship Engineering Co., Ltd..

The repairs to the vessel were originally expected to be complete by July 2010. but the repaired vessel was ultimately not handed over to the local authorities until December 2, 2010.