By Staff Writer
Official formalities under next to the new vessel at the Matautu-tai wharf yesterday afternoon.
The formalities of blessing the new boat is done and over with, all that is left is to sail the scheduled route between the two Samoas, east and west.
The Lady Samoa IV brought the PM Fiame Naomi Mataafa and her Cabinet to the Matautu-tai wharf Tuesday afternoon for their traditional blessings.
The Japanese fully funded inter-island ferry carries up to 280 or 60 more passengers than the Lady Naomi she is replacing.
Lady Samoa IV was built in Japan at a total cost of $37.64m tala starting in 2021 with a dead weight of 180 tons to travel 12 knots at full speed.
The boat sailed from Japan to Samoa on the 8 October 2022 after it was built on a trip that took 20 days to arrive in Apia.
For the retired Lady Naomi, she is expected to be returned to Japan under the terms of the assistance for Samoa.
Her new replacement is a step up in the ongoing developments of the popular weekly service route between Apia to Pago Pago.
