New $21.5 Million Inter-Island Ferry Delayed for Safety Concerns

Apia, Samoa – 23 December 2025 – A double-hull catamaran designed passenger vessel intended for the Mulifanua-Saleolologa strait has been delayed further due to safety and security concerns.

Negotiated by the former Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure (MWTI) Olo Afoa Fiti Va’ai, the ferry was expected to be in service in mid-year 2025.

However, Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt told the media that the vessel has been further delayed due to safety concerns.

“It will be a first double hull catamaran design passenger vessel intended for the strait, which as regular travellers know, can be very rough at times,” said the Prime Minister.

He also said the boats size and design could also have issues with the depth of the wharves Mulifanua and Salelologa and its mooring in providing service for the travelling public.

The vessel is a Ro-Ro/Passenger Ship with a length overall (LOA) of 56.64 meters and her width is 12 meters and was to be funded by the Samoa Ports Authority (SPA) at $7.8 million USD or approximately $21.5 million Samoan Tala.

According to Olo, the vessel will take 30 to 35 minutes to travel between the islands, “and if this gets the go-ahead” the Minister says there are plans to refit the vessel to cater to 1000 or more passengers.

The vessel’s home port is Wallaroo Australia. It was built by Nanindah Mutiara Shipyard – Batam, Indonesia in 2011 and is owned by Islands Transport Holdings – Gold Coast.