The MV Manu’atele returned to service last week after undergoing repairs for nearly three weeks.
The repairs were necessary after the vessel underwent a Coast Guard inspection.
For now, the boat can carry only half its passenger load of 132, said Port Administration Director Barney Sene. The remaining repairs should be completed by mid-December, he added.
The vessel resumed its weekly voyages to Manu’a last week. It also made a trip to Manu’a on Monday night in time for Thanksgiving and returned Tuesday night. Sene said the vessel carried lots of cargo and just 20 passengers on its voyage to Manu’a last week. For last night’s sailing, only 15 passengers were on board.
While the MV Manu’atele was undergoing repairs, Port Administration chartered the private owned vessel MV Talitiga to transport cargo to and from Manu’a.
