The Tango Wharf extension ribbon-cutting ceremony on U.S. Naval Base Guam (NBG), was conducted Dec. 18 to celebrate the improvements in infrastructure and capabilities the base can provide to support the Navy's mission.

"This is a commitment at the end of the day and it's a commitment by the United States of America," said Capt. Andy Anderson, commanding officer, NBG. "It's a commitment by the armed forces to our regional and strategic partners throughout this area."

The purpose for the extension to the wharf was to provide infrastructure, improvements and utilities for cold iron berthing for transient ships such as those within an Amphibious Readiness Group, its combatant escort ships and the Joint High Speed Vessel.

"You look at this wharf and what it will provide, with regards to the Joint High Speed Vessel, with regards to the Amphibious Ready Group, and with the pivot to the Pacific," Anderson said. "This is an incredible asset that will allow us to project power forward from the sovereign territory of the United States of America."

The cold iron berthing would give ships the capability to connect to an electrical power source at the wharf that allows the ship to turn off its main and auxiliary engines. These improvements are necessary to support the relocation of the III Marine Expeditionary Forces from Okinawa, Japan, to Guam.

"To look close at what was done here was quite a feat and I think of the warfighter; I think of projecting power, as Andy said, and being able to be at the forefront in this world to defend the world and I say that because I think we have the best Navy in the world," said Capt. Douglas King, executive officer, Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Marianas.

A 1993 earthquake struck the island and damaged Tango Wharf, leaving the structure unusable. A previous project repaired part of the wharf, however approximately 315 feet remained unimproved.

NAVFAC Marianas awarded the contract to Overland Federal and HNTB Corporation Nov. 28, 2012. The project was completed Sept. 30, with a final cost of $14.9 million.

The new Tango Wharf has new mooring and berthing systems, and utilities and wharf storm drainage systems as well as structural improvements that can resist seismic and typhoon