An inter-island ferry operated by Samoa Shipping Corporation, laden with passengers and cargo, has run aground on a reef offshore Salelologa, Savai'i since Monday morning. 

S.S.C. officials have confirmed when contacted by the Samoa Observer that passengers on the MV S.S.C. Fasefulu have been safely moved to the shore leaving just the cars and cargo on the vessel. Small boats were used to transport the stranded passengers on dry land. 

Members of the public travelling to Savai'i shared videos and photos of the vessel that appeared to run aground on a reef on the outskirt of Salelologa. 

The videos also showed the fully loaded inter-island ferry with members of the public standing outside where the cars are parked without any shelter in the hot sun. 

The Chief Executive Officer for S.S.C. Leiataua Samuel Phineas, when contacted by this newspaper for comment, asked to call back later as he was very busy.  

The ferry was heading to Salelologa, Savai'i on its morning trip when it ran aground, just meters away from the wharf. 

The vessel is one of four landing craft funded and owned by the corporation. Just last week the S.S.C. put out a notice advising the public that the MV Samoa Express II which operates between Salelologa and Mulifanua route will not be making the trips from 16th August to 19th August as it undergoes maintenance work. 

The corporation added the MV Fotu-o-Samoa (MVFOSII) and MV S.S.C. Fasefulu will be substituting all Samoa Express II trips until its maintenance is completed on 19 August 2023. 

In 2021 the Nafanua patrol boat also got stuck on a reef on the outskirts of Salelologa during the political crisis, when it was responding to reports of threats in Savai'i during the Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P.) car rally on the big island. The $30 million patrol boat was returned to Australia for repairs later on in September 2021 and later written off due to the damage.