A ferry company based in the Bahamas has officially purchased the state-owned vessel, MV Lady Filifilia or “Rock da Boat” as it was commonly known to many.
The vessel was initially purchased by the Corporation in 2008 to conduct day cruise services operating under Talofa Cruises.
The ferry was purchased for operations to “remote and isolated islands of Samoa as an added activity contributing to the promotion of tourism.”
Unfortunately, said the corporation in a press release, things didn’t go well due to “technical and environmental issues.”
These issues hindered the progression of this initiative as well as holding back exploration of the potential of this “wonderful” concept.
The Corporation resolved to use the vessel as a venue for various occasions such as weddings, birthdays, corporate events “as well as the ever popular party cruise known by many as ‘Rock da Boat’ in order to sustain revenue to meet its financial obligations.”
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“Cabinet upon recommendation by the S.S.C. Board of Directors endorsed the proposal for the vessel to be sold given its limitations and inability to comply with international/ national requirements,” said the corporation.
The press release did not state how much the ferry was sold for. Initial plans were for the corporation to use the ferry to provide a regular passenger service between Apia to Aleipata, and Apia to American Samoa, with other routes between Apia and Mulifanua to Salelologa as alternatives.
“The Corporation’s long term plan is to replace this vessel with another one, which every success with Rock da Boat’s can comply with all maritime future endeavors.” requirements.”
The carrier, named MV Floragracht “The S.S.C. Board, Management yesterday uploaded the ferry to and Staff wished Bahamas Ferries transport it to its new home port in Nassau, Bahamas.
A 2011 report on national infrastructure listed Lady Filifila as among spending causing $7 million in debt for the corporation by that year.
“SSC has a total outstanding debt of some T$7M mainly arising from acquisition of new vessels (MV Samoa Express in 2001, MV Fotu-o-Samoa II in 2004, and MV Lady Filifilia in 2008), purchase of land at Matautu, and expansion of workshops.
These debts are all with local commercial banks,” reads the National Infrastructure Strategic Plan.
The same report also noted that the corporation also had a turnover of $16 million tala by the end of the 2009 financial year.
According to the South Pacific Travel Blog, the 150 passenger ferry was formerly known as the Reef Quest, a dive boat formerly based in Cairns, Australia.
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