Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA— ASG is chartering the Samoa government-owned Fotu-o-Samoa vessel for transport of equipment to Manu’a while the ASG vessel, MV Manu’atele has a scheduled trip to the island group today, according to Port Administration director Taimalelagi Dr. Claire Poumele.

Polynesian Shipping, the local agent for the Samoa Shipping Service, issued an announcement early this week saying the Fotu-o-Samoa trip for today to Apia, is cancelled due to the “ASG Port charter”.

The announcement quickly raised some concerns about what has happened to the MV Manu’atele — the reason behind the Fotu-o-Samoa charter by the “ASG Port”.

Responding to Samoa News questions, Taimalelagi explained that the “charter is for ASG” with several departments — including Department of Health, Public Works and American Samoa Power Authority — sending equipment, excavator, and dump trucks to  Manu’a.

As for the MV Manu’atele, she said the vessel is scheduled to depart today, Mar. 7th, to transport cargo for the community and passengers to Manu’a.

“The Manu’atele vessel is operable and will continue to conduct regular services to Manu'a,” she told Samoa News yesterday morning.

Asked about the status of repairs to the MV Sili, Taimalelagi said Port Administration is waiting for the shipyard to complete upgrades to the slip to enable the MV Sili to be repaired. She believes this may occur in April.

The MV Sili, while docked at the main pier at the Port of Pago Pago on Feb. 16th, took on water in the engine room, but didn’t sink. The US Coast Coast, Port Administration officials, and others worked to stabilize the vessel and remedy the situation.

Port Administration discovered, after pumping out the water, a small hole in the hull beneath the engine room. While a temporary fix has been made to keep the vessel docked, more permanent repairs are needed to be done by the shipyard, which is undergoing an upgrade to the 3,000 ton slipway.