The Ronald Reagan Marine Railway celebrated the reopening of its new offices and administration building called the Winch House on Monday.
The event also showcased how the shipyard has risen from ruins over the last four years and rebuilt by local workers to what is now a functioning shipyard. The shipyard is now diversifying services into repairing tanks for the American Samoa Power Authority and helping Port Administration.
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the American Samoa Shipyard Services Authority, Sen. Togiola Tulafono recalled the state of the shipyard when they took over.
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He said a US contractor’s minimum price to fix the slipway was $7 million, but this was expected to go up to between $12 and $15 million.
Togiola said CEO Tanumaleu Carlos Sanchez told him that the shipyard workers themselves could repair the slipway.
Not only has the slipway been successfully repaired an is operating, it has been extended and can now take up boats of 300 ft. 
Togiola said the mechanic shop was also left in ruins after the 2009 tsunami and all equipment was damaged, but it has now been replaced by a new building which was also built by the shipyard workers. The Winch House was condemned, but it was redesigned and rebuilt by the workers.
Togiola said the rebuilding of the shipyard was due to the courage and leadership of Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga, when he picked a diverse board of directors to move the shipyard forward. He also credited the CEO Tanumaleu Carlos Sanchez for his can do attitude.
Governor Lemanu said it was a proud day to witness what can be accomplished by our own people. He thanked and
congratulated the Board of Directors, the CEO, and the workers for bringing the shipyard back to life and making it work again. He also praised the shipyard’s effective training program where the employees are cross trained in more than one trade.
The Governor wanted the Coast Guard representatives present to let it be known that the shipyard of American Samoa is ready to fix vessels of the Department of Defense.
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CEO Tanumaleu Carlos Sanchez heaped praise on the shipyard employees.
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