SHIPYARD SERVICE AUTHORITY HAS SURPLUS FUNDS

During a recent cabinet meeting, Shipyard Service Authority Chief Executive Officer Moefa’auo ‘Bill’ Emmsley shared some good news saying an audit has been completed for FY 2016, which closed Sept. 30, 2016, and it shows that the government owned entity, has a surplus of $120,000 and this is the sign of cost containment measures that the shipyard had put in place.

He also told the cabinet meeting that the shipyard has discussed ways to provide jobs for displaced workers at Samoa Tuna Processors Inc., and Moefa’auo said word has been relayed to the STP that the shipyard is prepared to offer jobs to those affected.

STP closed indefinitely last Friday its canning operation laying off some 700 workers, leaving only 100 workers to man the facility, which is now a logistic hub for the company.

Moefa’auo also shared other developments at the shipyard, such as work has started for the construction of a two-story warehouse building along the roadside of the compound. As previously reported by Samoa News, the building will house machine shops, have space for repairs, while the second floor will be for classrooms for workforce training & development, and administration.

The project, which broke ground early last month, is funded with $1 million in bond proceeds from the American Samoa Economic Development Authority; and the proceeds will also support improvements to the 3,000-tonnage slipway to facilitate repairs for large vessels such as purse seiners, long-liners, tugboats and other larger sea motor vessels.

It will also support improvement to the 1,000-tonnage slipway to facilitate repairs for smaller and medium size vessels to include yachts, alia, pleasure boat, and other smaller types of boats.

Moefa’auo also told the cabinet meeting that work has started on another project of the shipyard — to repair ASG tugboats. He says recommendations have been sent to the Department of Port Administration on suggested repairs to two of the tugboats — Tatoso and Tautua. Additionally, the repairs of the tugboats are paid for with Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) funds.

US Interior Department’s Office of Insular Affairs announced in July this year that $1.75 million in CIP funding has been allocated for the overhaul of hull and machinery on two of three tugboats belonging to the Department of Port Administration, which serve the Pago Pago Harbor. The tugboats are vital to serving the long liners, cruise liners and other vessels arriving in the territory.

According to DOI/OIA, this project compliments prior-year funding for repairs to the shipyard and dry-docking services at Satala and complies with Coast Guard safety recommendations, while also extending life expectancy of the vessels.

POLYNESIAN AIRLINES GETS ANOTHER 30-DAY WAIVER FOR MANU’A

Without a US carrier operating American Samoa’s domestic flights, the US Department of Transportation last Friday granted another 30-day cabotage, exemption to the Samoa government owned Polynesian Airlines to operate flights between Tutuila and the Manu’a island group. 

The current 30-day exemption expires today, Dec. 19, and the new 30-day waiver is effective Dec. 20 to Jan. 18, 2017, according to the USDOT decision, which also states the federal agency is deferring a decision on Polynesian’s request for a longer exemption beyond Jan. 18, 2017.

Polynesian’s flights to Manu’a are: to Fitiuta Airport on Ta’u Island — four times a week — and Ofu Airport, on Ofu Island — once a week.

Polynesian along with Talofa Airways operates the inter Samoa route. This week both airlines have added several flights to accommodate the busy air traffic of passengers heading to Samoa for the Christmas holiday.