By Staff Writer
Police Minister Faualo Harry Schuster is excited by the benefits of Samoa having two patrol boats lined up for maritime services soon.
Australia is funding the bigger boat to cost $30m tala with Japan chipping in $13m tala for a smaller version.
“The bigger boat will need a crew of 24 members and 14 for the smaller one, that means job opportunities especially for our graduates from our marine school,” Minster Faualo told Newsline Samoa.
Having two boats on maritime duties and keeping security watch on Samoa’s territorial boarders holds more promises for the Minister.
Illegal drugs is on the top of his policing watch list with more worrying accounts of methamphetamine or ice reportedly rife in neighbouring American Samoa.
Popular fishing boats ‘alia’ have the estimated range to reach the island territory and back and there have been arrests in the past for illegal drugs.
The two-boat police patrol fleet will manage local waters better against foreign fishing vessels.
Emergency response services in times of disasters as well as emergency rescue operations are improved as well.
Minister Faualo felt the added advantage for these two boats is they are sourced from the same place with Japan funding the cost of the second patrol boat built in Australia.
“Having these boats built in Australia is an advantage for us with our patrol boat engineers familiar with their maintenance and mechanical requirements from the previous boats.
“Our local staff are also able to work closely with their Australian counterparts who are based here on short term work assignments.”
Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Senator Penny Wong, promised Samoa a new patrol boat while on an official visit last June to replace the Nafanua II damaged beyond repair when it ran aground at the Salelologa port harbour in Savaii.
Japan’s Ambassador to Samoa assured funding of the second police patrol boat when he co-signed with the Minister of Police an official agreement just over a week ago.