On a mission to provide excellent service to its customers and community, the American Samoa Department of Port Administration (DPA) continues to provide complete port and airport operations, across the Pacific Island region. Its operations have established it as the vital gateway into the islands of American Samoa, and so it is vital in establishing the region’s reputation within international markets.
American Samoa encompasses the eastern part of the Samoan archipelago and spans the 5 volcanic islands of Tutuila, Anunu’u, Ofu, Olosega and Ta’u, as well as two coral atolls: Rose and Swains. The port entry to American Samoa is located on Tutuila, the largest island that makes up the region which is part of the unincorporated United States territory of American Samoa. Across the region, the Department of Port Administration (DPA) manages and operates the Port of Pago Pago and Pago Pago International Airport on Tutuila Island, the Anunu’u Harbour on Anunu’u Islands, Ofu Harbour and Ofu Airport on Ofu Island, and the Faleasao harbour, Ta’u harbour and Fituuta Airport on Ta’u Island. These 5 islands are responsible for key trade, tourism and business links between the region and the rest of the world through its key seaports and airports.
The American Samoa DPA is committed to ensuring that all operations and expansions to the Islands’ ports serve the people of American Samoa in the best way. Each development is designed to support the local economy by implementing the necessary services to maintain its firm reputation as a hub for trade in the Pacific Island region. DPA outlines that it is its employees who are vital to maintaining its role within the region, as it is they are on the ground every day delivering excellent customer service across the seaport and airports. Across its workforce, the DPA draws together a team of experts who have the experience, financial understanding and industry connections to ensure that all of its operations serve the people of American Samoa with specialised yet responsive support.
One of the vital ports under the American Samoa DPA is the Port of Pago Pago, which is the entryway into the islands. Located on Tutuila Island, the Port is home to a container terminal where vessels can load and unload containers, and a Multi-use Wharf which serves cruise ship operations, as well as providing berthing operations. In addition to this, the port is also home to a Service Wharf for use by the American Samoa Government’s Fleet, and an Inter-island Terminal which facilitates cargo and ferry transportation between the islands. As the first stopping point for many vessels at the entryway to the American Samoa Islands, the port plays a vital role in providing the necessary clearance and documentation for vessels continuing to further islands. To facilitate this, the port had an administrative building on the port, however, this was demolished in 2022 with plans to construct a new administration centre in 2024 to meet the needs of the port going forward.
Also vital to Tutuila Island is the Pago Pago International Airport (PPG) which is owned and operated by the DPA of the American Samoa Government. The DPA oversees the 700-acre airport through the overseeing and management of ground handlers who oversee all aircraft that land at the PPG airport. Across the airport, DPA is committed to providing the best possible service making it a popular choice for people flying into the region. This competitive advantage helps to bolster the local economy of American Samoa and establish its reputation as a global connection facilitated with local expertise for an all-around great customer experience.
Between the islands of Tutuila and Aunu’u are the Auasi and Aunu’u harbours which are home to ocean transport between the two islands. This transportation is vital for students, workers and the public to seamlessly move between the islands. These harbours are similar to the Manu’a harbour which serves the islands of Afu, Olesega and Ta’u. Ofu is home to the Ofu Airport which spans 18 acres of pub airport and is overseen and managed by the DPA of the American Samoa Government. The airport serves the aviation needs of Ofu and Olosega, and connects vitally through the Manu’a harbours with Tau’u. Ta’u is served by the Tau’u and Faleasao Harbours and is home to the Fitiuta Airport. The Fitiuta Airport, also owned and operated by DPA serves the needs of the Tau’u Island and the surrounding islands via the Manu’a harbour. With such a vital network across the Islands, DPA works to enhance their combined role in remaining interconnected to serve both the people of American Samoa and people travelling to or through the region.
One of the main objectives of the Department of Port Administration of American Samoa is to develop the economy of American Samoa in an environmentally conscious way. DPA is committed to raising the standard of living across the Territory, but in a way that protects the environment and protects the best of the ‘fa’a-samoa’, the Samoan way of life. Therefore, with this as a foundation of its operations, DPA continues to develop the region’s sea and airports with the protection of the islands and their surrounding beauty in the process. A key project that was promoting this environmental protection development was established in 2018 with the American Samoa Ocean Plan. The plan was the first spatial plan to be completed by the United States for its jurisdictions in the Pacific Ocean, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
The plan acknowledges the natural health of the coastal environment, something that is key to the Samoan way of life and is perpetuated across its culture, and so the project takes this fundamental value and assesses the operations under DPA to ensure that is in keeping with this value of the people of American Samoa. DPA remain aware that with the development of its facilities and the increase in vessels and planes arriving at the islands, however, it is currently in a position where there has not been significant destruction of the environment, particularly in the way of water quality and the thriving coral reef ecosystems that the Islands are home to. However, it knows that these remain under threat if development practices are not put in place, so the American Samoa Ocean Plan was put in place in 2018 and continues to be developed by DPA to conserve ocean resources and maintain the vibrant coastal and ocean environments of American Samoa.
It is due to these protective measures under the plan that American Samoa has not yet reached the point of overexploitation. The plan provides the necessary planning process and tools to guide the region’s growing and evolving coastal and marine waters through tourism, recreational activities, infrastructural development and commerce. A key part of this is also working with key governmental figures to help guide this development to ensure the sustainable development of the port facilities of American Samoa for the future.
Ultimately, everything the American Samoa Department of Port Administration does is underpinned by its keen commitment to the people of American Samoa. Each operation and development ensures that the people and economy of American Samoa are prioritized in delivering positive results for the port. By bringing together local expertise across its operations, DPA has built its reputation as a major hub in the Pacific Ocean. As DPA continues to expand its offerings and provide even more tourism, commercial and local opportunities, it remains committed to its fundamental mission to provide excellent service to its customers whilst protecting the Samoan way of life in the process.
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