The U.S. Coast Guard has stepped in to assist Samoa’s border patrol following the running aground of the Nafanua II, putting the country’s main patrol boat out of action.

The Coast Guard Cutter Oliver Berry crew conducted patrol operations in Samoa’s exclusive economic zone in September 2021, deepening our close partnership with Samoa and promoting resource security within the area.

Last week the Nafanua II guardian patrol boat began its journey to Australia for repairs as it left the Salelologa wharf on Monday morning, after running aground and sustaining serious damage last month.

The U.S. Coast Guard employs 11 bilateral ship-rider agreements with Pacific Island Forum nations, including Samoa, to help them ensure their resource security and maritime sovereignty.  

Pursuant to those agreements, host government officials generally join Coast Guard patrols.  Due to COVID-19 protocols, in this instance the Oliver Berry did not make any shore visits or host Samoan government officials aboard.

The Samoa Observer contacted the U.S. Embassy in Apia for a comment on the the Coast Guard Cutter Oliver Berry and was referred to a U.S. Coast Guard media release which reveals that the Oliver Berry’s crew helped to fill the policing gap for illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing while Samoa’s Nafanua II patrol boat was out of service.  

14th District’s Chief of enforcement Cmdr. Jeff Bruyant said in the statement that the United States offered to assist the Government of Samoa by providing security and sovereignty operations in Samoan waters due to the absence of their patrol boat.

“It was a pleasure to support Samoa in enforcing their laws to protect fisheries and other natural resources within their [Exclusive Economic Zone],” he said in a statement.

Acting chargé d'affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Samoa Mark Hitchcock said that Oliver Berry’s patrol operations highlighted the close U.S.-Samoa partnership and our shared commitment to ensuring security and freedom of navigation in the Pacific.

“We look forward to working with the Samoan Government and Coast Guard to facilitate additional patrols in the near future,” he said.

According to the statement the U.S. Coast Guard and the Government of Samoa have a history of partnership.  

In 2019, the Coast Guard Cutters Walnut and Joseph Gerczak visited Apia Harbor and conducted patrol operations with officials from Samoa’s Ministry of Police and Ministry of Fisheries aboard. Crew from the Coast Guard Cutters also visited Lufilufi Primary School on Upolu Island to donate books, stationary, and sports gear and met with the Samoa Victim Support Group, a non-profit organization that specialises in providing shelter for domestic abuse victims, to donate children’s clothes, baby bottles, toddler blankets and reading materials.

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