The Japanese Government is funding an $ST82 million project to rehabilitate the Apia wharf.
A technical team carried out topographic surveys, soil investigations and environmental assessments of the Apia port in 2014 and designs for the project are based on the results of their findings.
The project would extend the main wharf at Matautu by more than 300 meters for safety landing of cruise ships, rehabilitation and expansion of the container yard creating more than double the existing capacity and improvement of tugboats and navigational systems.
Parts of the wharf were affected by Cyclone Evan in 2012.
Japan’s Ambassador to Samoa Tuimaugaoalii Kazumasa Shibuta said at the groundbreaking of the port project , “We can call the port a “lifeline” to sustain activity of Samoan people, especially agricultural crops, fish food, fuel etc, and of course passengers of cruise ship has a high priority for an engine of tourism.
