27 Apr 2010

American Samoa's Manu'a hopes for ferry service by next month

1:42 pm on 27 April 2010

Residents of the Manu'a islands in American Samoa are hopeful the inter-island ferry will resume regular services next month after six months of disruption.

The government vessel, MV Sili, was returned to the water last week after going in for repairs at the end of last year.

But the invoice for the repairs is still under dispute, and the government had to go to the High Court to order the boat's release.

Our correspondent in Pago Pago, Monica Miller, says the final bill was higher than the government expected:

"The original contract was $450,000. But invoices that MYD has presented so far illustrates that according to MYD they spent more than US$900, 000 on the repairs."

The vessel is still undergoing upgrades before being given an operating certificate by the Coastguard