Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — This photo posted Dec. 1, 2015 on the Tuvalu government Facebook page, shows the government’s new passenger ferry MV Nivaga III, that made its maiden voyage to American Samoa last Saturday morning and was in the Port of Pago Pago for 24-hours.

Responding to media questions regarding the vessel’s entrance into the Pago Pago Harbor and other issues relating to Tuvalu, the governor’s executive assistant, Iulogologo Joseph Pereira said over the weekend that the US Coast Guard had authorized the maiden voyage of the MV Nivaga III to enter the Port of Pago Pago.

However, if it’s the intention to make American Samoa a permanent port of call, then USCG regulations will have to be satisfied, he said, noting that the governor had “requested Department of Port Administration to help MV Nivaga III satisfy all USCG Rules and Regulations.”

Additionally, the executive branch worked with the USCG “to make sure compliance” prior “to the maiden and goodwill voyage” by the MV Nivaga III.

“Tuvalu has a sizable executive economic zone and it is the Governor's hope that Tuvalu will be lenient to fishing vessels home-ported in American Samoa and off-loading catches at StarKist and Tri-Marine International,” he said. “It is also the Governor's vision to create trade with Tuvalu and the MV Nivaga III facilitates the accomplishment of this desire.”

Tuvalu is one of the eight member countries of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) control the world’s largest sustainable tuna fishery. And US flagged purse seiners operating in the Western and Central Pacific has the opportunity to purchase fishing days in the exclusive economic zones of the PNA.

Additionally, according to fishery officials, purse seiner vessels can also purchase additional fishing days directly from Tuvalu to fish in that country’s EEZ under agreements, separate from the PNA.

Based on a letter from the Tuvalu government to the Governor’s Office, Samoa News reported more than a week ago, that the MV Nivaga III transported to Pago Pago on July 6th a canoe from Tuvalu which was later gifted to the governor, as the incoming chair of the 9th Pacific Leaders Group Summit next year.

However, Samoa News only learned last week that the MV Nivaga III had sailed to Apia, Samoa along with several Tokelau representatives and then they — along with the canoe — were then transported to the territory on board the MV Lady Naomi.

MV Nivaga III finally sailed into Pago Pago harbor last Saturday and departed last Sunday morning with Tokelau representatives, who were on island.