News report of dead bodies shipped together with a full cargo from American Samoa last weekend was shared by more than a thousand readers online last week.
The majority were alarmed by the arrangement when the Fotu-o-Samoa cargo barge sailed into Apia in only her third trip since border restrictions between the two Samoas were relaxed last month in July.
The bodies were reportedly brought to Apia to be cremated and the ashes returned to families in the territory.
The Fotu-o-Samoa was loaded under with frozen chicken imports packed into highs piles of small cardboard boxes for retailers in Apia.
Most of the cargo, however, were personal effects sent for the special Father’s Day Sunday by families in American Samoa.
The Samoa Shipping Corporation has tried to calm public health concerns at with the arrangement.
Corporation general manager, Leiataua Samuel Phineas, confirmed the two bodies shipped over in caskets by the open cargo barge.
“We don’t have any special holds on the vessel to store the bodies so we find a spot away from the main cargo to keep them during the trip,” Leiataua responded to questions emailed by Newsline Samoa on the voyage.
“The bodies are packed inside the caskets under special specifications by health officials before they are loaded onto the vessel.”
The Fotu-o-Samoa steamed into the domestic wharf at Matautu-tai on Saturday before last under a mountain of chicken imports for local retailers and general cargo.
Shipping officials at the wharf on arrival said they were unable to load up all the cargo and were forced to leave some behind for the next trip.
The cargo was forklifted onto the wharf to pile up in the open as the workers raced to beat the high tide that would pose unloading problems.
The caskets were loaded into a waiting funeral parlour van with final inspections by the police and customs officials on the wharf before it was allowed to leave.
“The Ministries of Health and the Prime Minister work together with the families of the deceased in American Samoa for approval before shipment to Apia is allowed,” Leiataua continued.
“The arrangement is also the same when it is the other way around. All we needed before shipment is a document of approval from the Ministry of Health.”
Leiataua explained further the travel restrictions that are in place from the coronavirus pandemic and the use of the cargo barge as the better option.
He noted also that the Fotu-o-Samoa is the ideal choice for cargo and it is used in American Samoa for trips between Tutuila and Manu’a and to Apia.
Cargo trips, however, are based on the demand and the costs involved for the use of the vessel.
“The demand for chicken imports coming from American Samoa is high because of the recent shortage in Apia with delays in the regular overseas shipments.
“The celebration of Father’s Day on Sunday also created the big demand for shipment of general cargo.”
Corona virus border order control restrictions, rule out the bigger Lady Naomi as unsuitable on the interisland route as both a passenger and cargo vessel.
Travel restrictions between the two Samoas were only recently relaxed for the Fotu-o-Samoa to start making sailing runs last month on the 2 of July 2020.
The weekend trip was only her third since the borders re-opened.