The chairman of the Shipyard Services Authority Board, Director of Commerce Keniseli Lafaele, says they remain positive and optimistic that another cannery will take over the Samoa Tuna Processors plant,
He says the closure of the cannery’s tuna canning operation should not stop planned improvements for the government’s shipyard at Satala.
KHJ News had asked Lafaele if it was prudent to go ahead with construction of the $1 million facility to house workshops for the shipyard with the STP closure looming on the horizon.
He said, “We remain positive and optimistic. We just can’t roll over and die.
“We expect the Tri Marine plant to be taken over by some other group.”
He said if DOC has anything to do with it, we will try to make sure the brand new facility will be put to good use, rather than let it be used only for a hub for Tri Marine’s fish supply business.
Lafaele said the slipway at the shipyard also needs repairs as it’s in terrible shape.
The plan is to upgrade the railway and get it insured, as lack of insurance coverage is one reason why some of the fishing boats don’t want to use the local shipyard but are going to New Zealand and Singapore.
The Shipyard Services Authority which oversees the government shipyard is breaking ground today for construction of a building which will house all of the workshops now scattered around the shipyard .
CEO Moefaauo Bill Emmesly says the building will be steel framed and is being procured from off island by a local company which he did not name, while the rest of the construction will be done internally by shipyard workers.
The project is funded through the bond sale by the American Samoa Economic Development Authority
