Samoa's MV Queen Salamasina sold to Fijian company

The Samoan government said goodbye to its 22-year-old inter-island ferry, the MV Queen Salamasina, late last year. It was sold for T 5230,000 (U 5574,410) to a Fijian company, Patterson Brothers Shipping Co., Ltd, the Samoa Observer reported.

The Queen Salamasina was replaced on its Apia-Pago Pago service by the MV Lady Naomi in December 1998.

Queen Salamasina was built at the Dillingham Shipyard in Perth, Australia and was completed in January 1977. It was funded under the Australian Government Aid Assistance program at a cost of A 52.4 million (US$l.53). The government leased the ship to the Samoa Shipping Corporation to provide

shipping services for the islands of Samoa.

The MV Queen Salamasina underwent major repairs in Nelson, New Zealand after Cyclone Ofa in 1990 at a cost of well over US$l million.

The government and the Samoa

Shipping Corporation successfully

acquired the MV Lady Naomi under the Aid Assistance Program of the Government of Japan.

After the arrival of MV Lady Naomi in December 1998, MV Queen Salamasina ceased services. The ship was offered for sale and the cabinet, on October 13 last year, officially approved Patterson Brothers’ tender of T 5230,000 (U 5574,410).

The ship’s main service was the

weekly trips between Apia and Pago

Pago. Apart from American Samoa, the ship also provided services in the past to the Tokelau Islands, Wallis & Futuna and Tonga.

The government said it was “grateful to the government of Australia for the assistance in providing the MV Queen Salamasina.

The ferry not only improved the inter island shipping service remarkably, but also was the backbone for the transportation sector between the Samoan Islands.

For 22 years it was the main shipping vehicle for exporters and importers between Samoa and American Samoa. In recent years it also has provided vital services to the Tokelau Islands.” ■

The Queen Salamasina sits at Apia Harbour several months before she was sold to Fijian company, Patterson Brothers Shipping