Opportunities for Samoa Seafarers Open Up After Challenging Two Years of Pandemic Lockdowns

The Samoa Shipping Services (SSS) is thrilled to announce new opportunities for Samoa seafarers after a tough two and a half years of the pandemic.

There are over 300 Samoans currently employed on international vessels, both cruise and container ships and as of 26th September 2022, a total of 82 additional opportunities have been confirmed.

Samoa Shipping Services General Manager, Lautimuia Afoa Vaai said SSS has remained resilient and endured many challenges especially with opportunities for seafarers being limited.

“The decrease in employment opportunities due to covid19 impacted not only our organisation but mainly our seafarers and their families”.

Lautimuia says the aim and goal of SSS is to ensure that Samoa can continue to provide opportunities for our local seafarers to be employed on international vessels.

“We rely heavily on the partnerships we’ve established with our overseas suppliers to stay in business,” he adds.

With Samoa’s re-opening of its international borders, it has helped Samoa Shipping Services recruit more seafarers and accept opportunities offered from its international partners.

There is a high demand on Cruise Ships which makes up 73 of the seafarers departing soon while the remaining 9 will work on Cargo vessels.

“SSS competes on an international level which makes it far more challenging,” said Lautimuia. :We compete with big countries mainly from the Asia region”.

The SSS General Manager says It is not a small market Samoa competes in and he acknowledged the MSC,  Mediterranean Shipping Company, who has been Samoa’s solid partner for years.

“We continue to serve Samoa through this platform which not only provides employment for graduates from our Maritime school but contributes greatly to the economy of our beloved country,” said Lautimuia.

“We pray and hope that the door of opportunities will continue to open for us especially with another lot of graduates will complete their qualifications by this coming December”.

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