The popular cargo vessel Polynesia has returned to Samoa's shores to ensure the continuity of shipping services to the American mainland.

The container ship Polynesia was brought back to Samoa to fill in a gap that had emerged in the Samoa–U.S.A. shipping route following the withdrawal of another shipping line from the trade route. 

Swire Shipping Pte Ltd Country Manager May Keil confirmed in an email to the Samoa Observer that a vessel-sharing agreement that they had with another shipping line since 1999 was on the verge of collapsing and they became aware of the looming disruption in service in March this year.

"Swire Shipping has been involved in the U.S.A. to Samoa trade since 1979 and we have been in a vessel-sharing agreement with another shipping line since 1999," Ms. Keil said. "In this agreement, both companies provided one vessel and took on those associated costs. 

"Additionally, we shared spare on each other’s vessels meaning customers had access to improved frequency and a more secure supply chain.

"At the end of March, we were made aware that this other shipping line was going to withdraw completely from the trade. This would have meant that the vessel capacity into the Pacific region from the U.S.A. would have been reduced significantly."

Ms. Keil said their company decided to intervene and bring in another vessel to ensure the continuity of service to their customers in Samoa and other Pacific Island nations.

"Swire Shipping Pte Ltd, therefore, made the decision to add an additional vessel to ensure that we provide the same product (i.e. two vessels operating on the loop which provides a sailing every 19 days) with minimal disruption for our customers.

"Polynesia arrived early hours of Sunday morning and Swire Shipping aims to keep the rotation of 19-day with the next Mount Cameron due into Samoa around the 11^th of August."

The container ship Polynesia left Apia, Samoa around 8 am on Monday morning bound for the Tongan capital Nukualofa.