LADY SAMOA II ferry

[aukepalmhof]

The stamp inscription gives “Ferry boat LADY SAMOA” on the $3 stamp, but when you have the stamp the bow name is not readable but on the stern is given LADY SAMOA II with homeport Apia, Samoa.

She was built under yard No 868 by the Yokohama Yacht Company, Yokohama for the Samoa Government, Minister of Finance.
28 July 1988 launched under the name LADY SAMOA II.
Tonnage 867 gross, 261 net, dim. 43.3 x 11.5 x 2.35m. (draught)
Powered by ? Speed 11 knots.
Accommodation for 480-day passengers. Crew 13.

She together with the LADY NAOMI were granted under the Japanese Aid Program to the Samoan Government, who leased them to Samoa Shipping Corporation (SSC).
She is used in the Mulifanua to Salelologa route on a daily base, the distance between the two ports is 13 sea-miles, and the voyage takes around 1 hour.
There are six round trips each day except on Tuesday and Sundays with only four round trips respectively.

The LADY SAMOA II is expensive to operated, and there are reports to replace her in the near future.
http://www.wquasis.org gives for 2018: IMO no 8802246, Call sign 5WCK. Still owned by same owner, and managed by Samoa Shipping Corp. Ltd.

Samoa 1990 $3 sg843 scott772. 2002 95s sg?, scott?

Source: Some web-sites. Marine News 1989/252. shipsonstamps Mr. Peter Crichton.

[D. v. Nieuwenhuijzen]

Lpp:38,60m. Depth:3,90m. 2-6 cyl. Yanmar diesel engines:2400 hp. (1766 kW.)