UK offers to police Samoa’s EEZ

Staff Reporters

APIA, SAMOA – 09 MARCH 2022: The British Government has offered to assist Samoa police its’ Exclusive Economic Zone in the absence of its patrol boat Nafanua 11.

The British Ambassador to Samoa, David Ward met with the Assistant Police Commissioner, Papalii Monalisa Keti and top executives of the Ministry of Police this afternoon to discuss the offer and the outcome of these discussions should be known later this week.

Samoa has been without its patrol boat, Nafanua 11 since August last year when the $30million dollar Australian funded boat ran aground a reef outside the Saleolologa wharf.

This week, both the Australia and Samoa governments announced that the boat was beyond economic repair.

Although Australia remains a committed maritime security partner for Samoa, it is not clear whether there would be a replacement for the damaged patrol boat.

Samoa’s EEZ had been patrolled by the US Coastguard since August last year.