Samoa Shipping

Samoa Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi sympathizes with Governor Togiola Tulafono's efforts to improve ocean travel between Tutuila and Manu'a. "Running a shipping corporation is a very costly exercise," said Tuilaepa. "Samoa is fortunate because of the assistance from our development partners particularly Japan in providing us brand new... vessels for free." The Samoa Shipping Corporation earlier this year took delivery of a brand new custom-made 700 passenger 70-car vessel- the Motor Vessel (MV) Lady Samoa III- complete with VIP lounge, restaurants and all the luxuries and amenities required in a modern ship. Used on the inter-island route between Upolu and Savaii, the MV Lady Samoa III was built and delivered under the continuing bilateral partnership between the governments of Samoa and Japan. "Because Samoa is an independent country, there are a lot of funding options available to us. Our major development partners are China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand as well as ease of access to soft term loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) - we primarily expend on infrastructural development," said Tuilaepa. "Our development partners do not ask for much in return - mostly support for their candidates put up for international positions handled at the diplomatic level. That one vote at the United Nations really counts," he added. These options, the Prime Minister said, are not available to Governor Togiola and his administration as a Territory of the United States. "We too were under a colonial administration and are well aware of the many (funding) limitations and frustrations that come with knowing what the people need and funding available from the overriding colonial authorities," said Tuilaepa. Established in 1974, the Samoa Shipping Corporation has had four decades of maritime experience. "Samoa Shipping has achieved a high level of management, monetary and fiscal efficiency, has amassed a pool of qualified sailors and engineers, its ships ...Read More