Samoa opened a new chapter in its maritime surveillance history with the official launching and handing over of a new patrol boat to the Ministry of Police, Prisons and Corrections Services on Tuesday. 

The 17-meter-long patrol boat named Tilafaiga was funded by the Japanese government and will assist and support the Samoa Police's maritime surveillance and law enforcement programme. 

Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa thanked the government of Japan for its ongoing assistance as one of Samoa's developing partners.

The official launching of the vessel is a milestone in developing cooperation between the two countries, said Fiame. She said it also signifies the strong ties between the two governments as they mark 50 years of diplomatic relations. 

She also acknowledged the hard work and efforts that went into bringing the boat over to Samoa and extended the gratitude of the Government of Samoa and its people to the Government of Japan as well as other developing partners for their ongoing assistance. 

The Tilafaiga patrol boat, according to Fiame, is a valuable asset to the Government that will enhance the country's maritime surveillance and security as well as respond to search and rescue emergencies.

"May the Tilafaiga and her crew sail safely," said Fiame. 

Japan's Ambassador to Samoa, Senta Keisuke, officiated the vessel's official commissioning on behalf of his country's government. A Japan grant assistance valued at JPY 150,000,000 (approximately SAT$3 million) was used for the procurement of the patrol boat to support the Samoa Police's maritime surveillance and law enforcement programme. 

The assistance also provided support for human capacity development through training, specifically for the Maritime Unit of Samoa Police as the end user of the patrol boat.

The grant aid assistance is based on the prioritised areas of Japan’s assistance to sustainable oceans based on the rule of law, declared during the Ninth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM 9) in 2021. 

The new vessel will further enhance Samoa’s maritime capability to ensure: ongoing protection of her territorial waters and marine resources; enhanced border protection from external security threats ranging from transnational crime, and illegal immigration to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing; and provision of effective emergency response services for disasters, such as coastline surveillance, search and rescue operations.