ASG officials say plans for a cruise ship to dock in Ofu, Manu‘a are still in the early stages of discussion and feasibility. Additional talks and assessments are needed before any cruise ship visit to Ofu can be confirmed.
According to Port Administration Director Barney Sene, the American Samoa Visitors Bureau (ASVB) received an inquiry in December of last year regarding a cruise ship visit to Manu‘a in December of this year. ASVB approached Port Administration in February to explore the feasibility of such a visit.
Sene said that after an initial meeting, the Bureau and Port Administration involved other ASG and federal agencies in the discussion. These included Homeland Security, the National Park Service, NOAA, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources.
KHJ News understands that the National Park has expressed concerns about the potential impact of a cruise ship visit on coral reefs within the park, as well as the risk of uncontrolled waste runoff and algae blooms due to the sudden presence of thousands of visitors on the island.
A statement from American Samoa Visitors Bureau Director Taimalelagi Minnie Tuia said that, since the initial meeting, further discussions have included representatives from environmental agencies and the Manu‘a community. However, officials clarified that talks have not yet progressed to the level of public hearings, and no official plans have been confirmed.
The statement noted, “Stakeholders have agreed that a thorough feasibility study, environmental impact assessment, and review of current environmental policies and data must precede any potential cruise ship visits. These measures are intended to determine what form of tourism, if any, would be suitable for the Manu‘a Islands.”
Port Administration Director Sene said that, since discussions are still at an early feasibility stage, only a small group of people from Ofu have been involved so far. As the process moves forward, more community members will be included. He added that the current discussions are focused on the potential impacts of a cruise ship visit to Ofu, the number of tourists the island could reasonably accommodate, and how to protect the environment and ecosystem.
