Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — As Manu’a is today marking 117 years since the island group was ceded to the United States in 1904, the Lemanu Administration has on the drawing board a plan to enhance transportation to and from Manu’a that includes acquiring a Landing Craft Unit (LCU) to provide heavy lifting capabilities year-round.

This is revealed in the Administration’s 2021 “Mid-Year Performance Report”, distributed to lawmakers on Monday. It says that an LCU has the ability to enter the shallow draft harbor of Ta’u to move cargo directly to the port as opposed to having to lift the cargo from the MV Manu’atele to the smaller ASG vessel, Uila o le Sami or local alia.

And the Department of Port Administration has been researching potential vessels to procure and has located a few former military vessels on the US east coast.

Key objectives for the LCU acquisition, according to the report, include:

•        Increased safety of operations to allow for the use of Ta'u Harbor during rough weather conditions

•        Increased efficiencies in transportation to and from Manu'a

•        Increased operational flexibility to be able to utilize all harbors year-round.

•        Availability of an additional vessel to service the territory’s outer islands to include small boat harbors such as Aunu'u and Auasi.

•        Increased operational flexibilities with having an alternate vessel to allow for maintenance downtime of the other vessel to minimize schedule downtime.

In an effort to promote and sustain the infrastructure of both government and private sector for the Manu’a Islands, the Administration says it is critical that the transportation to and from Manu’a is secured and readily available on a year-round schedule.

It says that transportation between Tutuila and Manu’a over the last decade has hindered the progress of promoting economic activities in Manu’a along with basic necessities to its residents.

Justification of the proposed LCU purchase is for the “continuous and improved services to the residents of the Manu’a Island Group for access to basic needs, supplies and services; preparation of emergencies; and for the economic development of the Territory,” the report says, noting that specifications of this LCU are requested for quality, safety, and in compliance with U.S. Coast Guard regulations.

Currently, the MV Manu’atele serves the Territory as the only public inter-island transportation. However, the report says regular maintenance of the vessel, based on the required repairs, lasts two to three weeks. And during this downtime, all services provided to the Manu’a Islands are halted.

“With the purchase of the new vessel, the intention is to prevent any further interruptions of service to our neighbors for the welfare of our residents,” it says.

The LCU will serve the outer islands in concert with the MV Manu’atele to provide transportation of goods, services, fuel, and people between the Tau, Ofu and Faleasao Wharfs with regular visits to/from the Pago Pago Harbor.

“The purchase of the new vessel will increase the economic opportunities with emphasis on expanding our export earnings through tourism development, increase import substitution through agricultural expansion, and boosting our share of our fishing industry through supplying fish to the canneries,” the report says.

“This new LCU will provide not only a higher quality of living for the Manu’a residents, but will also improve the emergency response for their welfare,” it says.

The report notes that of the 25 weeks between January-June, the MV Manu’atele averaged going every week, and in some weeks, twice. When trips have been postponed due to weather, there are make-up trips to get caught up.

The Manu’atele sails every Wednesday of ASG Pay-Week taking general cargo, and the following Wednesday to transport fuel.

For the MV Segaula, the report says that on the last week of May, Port Administration positioned the Segaula in Ofu to help transport passengers between Ofu and Ta’u islands due to the Ofu Airport Runway being closed for renovations.  Since being stationed in Manu’a, the Segaula has completed 48-plus trips.