By Staff Writer
The Lady Naomi is starting to sail sweet again with clearance for close to full passenger loads to American Samoa of up to 200 people, starting this week.
The inter-island vessel carries a full load of 220 passengers but since last August with the lifting of COVID 19 travel restrictions only 60 people were allowed.
The hugely reduced travel numbers allowed were at the request of the American Samoa pandemic task force.
The juggle with limited quarantine facilities among other problems to do with health security were concerns for the territory.
The pressure of travel demands from the Apia end did slowly opened up the passenger count with increases of 80 and then 100 passengers over the ensuing weeks.
“Our Shipping Corporation Board with the support of the Government kept knocking on the door and finally this week we are allowed to carry 200 passengers,” General Manager Leiataua Samuel Mr. Phineas happily revealed.
The Lady Naomi sailed off yesterday, Thursday 29 September 2022, from Apia to Pago Pago with her first biggest load of passengers since the troubles with the pandemic started.
Leiataua said passenger loadings will be reviewed after the busy White Sunday period coming up or if all goes well maybe for the end of year holiday season.
There is can urgent demand for hired workers from Apia for the canneries in American Samoa nd are given the priority.
“We are dividing it down the middle allowing for 100 on work travel and the other half to the general public,” added the general manager.
The Lady Naomi sailings are also back to a weekly scheduled compared to fortnightly trips.
The Corporation struggled to meet operating costs of running the service between the two Samoas with COVID restrictions affecting travel and cargo on the route.
“The lifting of the State of Emergency (SOE) is like a dark cloud clearing out for us to see the bright lights again in the challenges of running the Corporation services to benefit everyone.”
The end of year holiday season is the main peak travel period for the Corporation’s inter-island service with the Mulifanua-Salelologa route running at full speed for Christmas and New Year.