New and bigger tugboat to combat safety and reliability risks at Apia port

By Talaia Mika

APIA, SAMOA – 10 AUGUST 2022: A new and larger tugboat, Sa’ula-60 launched last night at the Apia port will enhance safety and reliability risks at the Apia port and to meet the capacity of the container vessels that are expected to dock at the port in the years to come.

Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mataafa was joined by the Asian Development Bank Director General for the Pacific, Leah Gutierrez, ADB Alternate Executive Director Karen Murray, and Minister of Works and Transport Infrastructure and the Samoa Port Authority Olo Afoa Fiti Vaai and guests at last nights launch ceremony.

The new tugboat is one component of the Enhancing Safety, Security and Sustainability of the Apia Port project in progress, funded through a grant aid by the Asian Development Bank and the government of Samoa.

The tugboat was built by Cheoy Lee Shipyard Company in Hong Kong at a price of USD$5.15million which includes the construction, delivery to Samoa and training of local crew.

Tugboats play a critical role in Apia Port’s operations, connecting arriving vessels inside the reef and berthing and de-birthing of vessels, as well as helping emergency services conduct fire-fighting.

The launch of the tugboat also coincides with the reopening of Samoa’s international borders.

The Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure, Olo Fiti Vaai said sea trials and test works were carried out upon the completion of the project in June before departing for Samoa.

SA’ULA-60 during launch last night.

“The arrival of the new state of the art tugboat will greatly improve capacity and capability of the authority to handle larger ships that call into the Apia port and the launching of the Sa’ula-60 will greatly benefit all people of Samoa and improve the services of the Samoa Ports Authority to all its’ stakeholders and ports users,” he added.

“Building resilience to climate change, strengthening border security and boosting trade are all key components of the Apia Port project and we’ll continue working with ADB to make SPA a more secure and greener international gateway.”

Cabinet in March this year endorsed the recommendation by the Samoa Ports Authority to name the new tugboat Sa’ula-60

Sa’ula is the Samoan name for the blue-mullet, a favourite fish for local fishermen during the annual game fishing tournament while the addition of the number 60 is a tribute to Samoa for reaching 60 years of its’ independence this year.

The tugboat is part of the project supported by ADB and Samoa is upgrading critical port infrastructure, including reconstructing the breakwater, upgrading the port terminal, implementing a wave-monitoring and early warning system, and procuring the Sa’ula-60 tugboat and a container X-ray scanner.

The project will also support developing and delivering gender-sensitive green port initiatives to optimize operational and energy efficiency towards long-term sustainability of Samoa’s port operations.