The MV Manu’atele now has an engineer on board and will be making a trip to Manu’a next week.
The vessel has been idle for nearly two months because the Coast Guard said it needed an engineer with experience in transport vessels.
The first engineer for the Manu’atele who has been with the vessel since it arrived here two years ago opted not to renew his contract as he wanted to return to the US.
Acting Director of Port Administration Christopher King says the new engineer who is from Mississippi arived a week ago and he is being hired on a temporary contract.
This is to see whether he likes working and living here, said King.
The MV Sili has been making regular trips to Manu’a since the Manu’atele has been out of service.
But King said the Manu’atele will be back on its regular shipping schedule to Manu’a beginning next week.
