Interior redirects $1,640,000 to repair M.V. Manu’atele

WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary, Insular and International Affairs, Douglas W. Domenech on Tuesday announced $1,640,000 in redirected Capital Improvement Project (CIP) funds to the American Samoa Government to make emergency repairs to the M.V. Manu’atele Ferry.

The ferry, one of the main transports for passengers and cargo between the capital island of Tutuila and the Manua Islands, was damaged during recent storms while at the dock in Ofu and is no longer in service.

 “The Secretary and I are happy to support the Governor’s request to redirect CIP funds to make emergency repairs to the Manu’atele Ferry,” said Assistant Secretary Domenech.

“Families in the territory rely heavily on this ferry for the transport of goods as well as transportation for work and school. We support the return of this service as quickly as possible. We are also discussing potential options to support necessary repairs to the Ofu Dock which also suffered damage during recent storms.”

The Department of Port Administration in American Samoa will be coordinating the necessary repairs to the ferry, which will be conducted in Hawaii and are estimated to be completed by this summer. In the meantime, the American Samoa Government is exploring other options to serve the Manua Islands.