The new MV Lady Naomi set for commissioning on Tuesday

Apia, SAMOA — The Samoa Shipping Corporation (SSC) has taken delivery of its new $66.7 million tālā passenger ferry.

The vessel replaces the MV Lady Naomi, which has sailed between American Samoa and Samoa for more than 20 years.

The new Japanese-funded ferry arrived at Apia Harbour as the MV Lady Naomi was preparing to make her final sailing between the islands.

The new ferry will be commissioned on Tuesday and is expected to be renamed MV Lady Naomi 60.

The Minister of Transport, Olo Fiti Va'ai, said ferries servicing the route to American Samoa are to be named Lady Naomi and the ferries between Savai'i and Upolu are named Lady Samoa.

The '60' in the name is a nod to its arrival in Samoa's 60th year of independence.