Samoa Shipping Corporation boss explains

A big drop in the number of passengers travelling between Pago Pago and Samoa has forced the Samoa Shipping Corporation (SSC) to
look elsewhere to boost its revenues.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of SSC, Papali’i Willie Nelson, that’s why Lady Naomi II has been chartered to the Cook Islands.

“Firstly, the financial crisis in Pago is getting worse and it also affected our service there because we barely meet fifty per cent of passengers and cargo needed each week,” Papali’i said.

“In any business, it cannot continue if it doesn’t make any profit. It’s the same with us. We are trying to look for ways to maintain the service of Lady Naomi by offering service to other markets that need it.”

Papali’i’s opinion was sought following criticisms about the cancellation of the weekly trip to American Samoa.

In a letter to the editor, one unhappy customer wrote: “My real issue with this is that the Lady Naomi was bought for the purpose of providing passages for our people between Apia and Pago Pago.