American Samoa government, through a Honolulu-based lawfirm, has filed a claim of ownership of the tugboat Sailele with the federal court in Honolulu.
The motion states that the territorial government makes claim to the vessel Sailele, her engines, boilers, tackle, and other equipment.
The legal move comes after the Marisco shipyard in Honolulu filed a complaint against the goverment earlier this month, demanding payment of nearly a million dollars for repairs, other services and equipment provided for the Sailele.
According to Marisco's filing, the invoice for the project totalled 3 million US dollars, but the American Samoa government had only paid 2 million dollars.
The tugboat Sailele remains in Honolulu while the case is pending in court.
