Two tugboats which ASG bought three years ago with ARPA funds are undergoing sea trials in Honolulu before they set sail to the territory.
Director of Port Administration Barney Sene says, if all goes according to plan, the tugboats should be here in time for Flag Day.
Port Administration had been awarded $5 million in ARPA funding to purchase a Landing Craft Unit and two tugboats.
Up to now there’s been no mention of an LCU being bought, however, the two used tugboats have been at the Marisco Shipyard in Honolulu since they were purchased undergoing repairs.
Sene said that when he was first appointed director he went to find out what’s happened to the tugboats. Since then, the tugboats were drydocked at Marisco to prepare them to set sail for American Samoa. The vessels are conducting 8-hour sea trials and will be undergoing Coast Guard inspection once the trials are completed. A captain and crew are in Honolulu for the sea trials.
In May of last year, the CEO of the ASG Shipyard Carlos Sanchez wrote to then Lt. Governor Laapui Talauega Eleasalo Ale warning about dire consequences for port operations if the government doesn’t provide adequate tugboats for the port.
He said port should have 2 tugboats with more than 3000 horsepower each and also 1 fire fighting vessel.
But right now, Port has only 1 tugboat.
Sanchez said major shipping agencies and port users all agree that Port Administration is not providing the right services for their companies.
And the situation is so bad, they are willing to help the shipyard finance two tugboats of 4000 and 5000 horsepower to be managed and operated by the shipyard.
Sanchez said plans were moving ahead for the shipyard to bring in two tugboats that had been reviewed and accepted by a group of technicians paid by the shipyard. But Port Administration, at a meeting with shipping agencies, informed that the Port is acquiring two tugboats that have been in Honolulu for the past few years for repairs.
