Posted October 2018

From John Neal of Mahina Expeditions

Just a brief update on Apia Marina.

After not visiting for five years, we were pleasantly surprised by our current visit. Emailing the Samoa Port Authority address no longer works. Vessels are expected to call Apia Port Control two hours before entering the harbour on Ch 16, but in fact, that frequency isn’t always monitored.

Marina manager Trevor (trevor@arkmarine.ws) worked for Bellingham Marine when they built the marina, and is now the leaseholder. He met us as we docked and had already called Health, Bio-Security, Customs and Immigration, all of whom came aboard and quickly and easily cleared us into the country.

He also gave us keys to the gate and showers and asks that yachties lock the entrance gate in the evenings. When asked about security, he said about four years ago some kids had gone aboard a boat, but no incidences since then that he’d heard of. Although he is not in his marina office more than 2-3 hours a day, he responds quickly to emails or phone calls and appears genuinely committed to doing the best job possible of accommodating cruisers and running and improving the marina.

Not all of the slips are taken, even in the peak season of yacht transits as Samoa is off the normal route. The moorage fees are very reasonable: US$28 per night for 14-16 meter monohulls, with US$4.50 for electricity. I’ve converted Samoan Tala to USD for ease of computing costs here.

Anchoring in the harbour is at the discretion of Samoa Ports Authority and appears to be somewhat dependent upon how many commercial vessels are at anchor. There is no charge to use the Port’s dinghy dock, but a charge of US$20 per week is made for using the marina for dinghy landing.

Because of several cruising vessels departing without paying mooring fees, Customs now needs to see proof of payment of moorage or dinghy fees before issuing an outbound clearance. We found outbound clearance easy. Immigration (in the Prime Minister’s office building) has cruisers fill in two forms and gives a letter to give to Customs (located next to the marina). Customs then issues outbound clearance papers.

There is an excellent new large public market downtown with excellent prices and friendly vendors. After trying several options, the best internet connectivity we found was by purchasing a BlueSky mobile hotspot device with 5 GB of data for a total of US$65. This provided very fast connections anywhere we tried it.

Posted August 2016

From Karl Mallon of SV Blue Heeler 1

The 2nd pontoon still not re-built in Apia harbour as of August 2016, but is being used as mooring pens for some local boats.

1.  The word is that they do not want people anchoring in the harbour if the marina has places – the marina is owned by the Harbour Authority.  Through it does not seem to be rigorously enforced.  There is a dinghy fee of $50 per week.  This allows the docking of your dinghy in the marina and, I assume, access to the simple toilet and shower.  Facilities are a single toilet/ shower room with a key provided by the marina.  However, you have to walk through a waterfront bar complex to access this, so it’s not heavily used, apart from a morning ablution.

There are water and power for each slip. The marina has floating concrete finger wharfs, with rubber guards fitted.  All in good condition.

2.  There is no security at the marina. Not even a locked gate.  There is supposed to be a guard, but we have not seen one and the taxi drivers, who service the marina, have complained to the harbour master, as they end up being defacto security.  This, therefore, applies to dinghies too, so they need to be locked.

3.  The marina is right next to some late night venues, which means a bit of noise on the weekend and Wednesday nights. Party spots for the yachties!, but also the risk of drunk people coming down to the boats,  Though I have not seen it happen, there is nothing stopping them.

4.  There are rats in the area who know how to climb ropes.  We have had one on the boat ourselves.  Cut empty plastic soda bottles and feed them onto the lines to prevent visitors,  It’s important that yachts do not export rats to environmentally sensitive islands when they leave.

5.  The marina is a 15-minute walk from the centre of town or a $5 WST taxi fee.  Taxis are cheap and plentiful.

6.  A scan of fee schedule:-

Cruising Permit: Free

Normal Garbage: No cost

Quarantine Garbage: $2 WST per bag

Customs Exit Fee: $55 WST

Marina fees:-

Up to 10m $55.50 Tala

10 to 12m $64.50 Tala

12 to 14m $75.00 Tala

14 to 16m $90.00 Tala

16 to 18m $114 Tala

18 to 20m $135 Tala

There was a local article disputing the cost for berthing – i.e. someone was charged $200 for being at anchor. But as far as I know, everything is on that list.  And at least 2 boats I know we’re not charged anything at anchor.

This perhaps reflects the fact that the marina is often un-staffed.  So on the one hand that makes it tricky if you need something, but also means they do not notice everything that goes on either.

By the way, normally they are on channel 66 at the marina. But as they are often not in the office, it’s best to try and get a cell phone number when you do meet one of the marina people.

7. Note: The Marina will arrange for Customs, Health, and Quarantine to visit the boat.  Then the captain can go to town to see Immigration.

8. Important – Currently it appears boats must clear out of Apia – even though they are likely to visit and then leave from more downwind locations.  Also, boats MUST have cruising permits to go to other anchorages – they check locally.  The solution is to officially clear out of Apia using a forward exit date which accords with the cruising permit,  e.g.  We officially cleared customs and Immigration on the 26th of August, but obtained a cruising permit for 3 weeks from the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s office, and a letter from Immigration saying our final exit date was September 17th.

9. Note: It’s hard to get European gas bottles filled here.  The one person who can do it is Tala at Hibiscus Gas.  His number is 720 9441.

Overall the Samoans are very hospitable and helpful.  There is plenty to do and see.  It’s not unusual to be invited to someones home for lunch or even to stay the night with the extended family.  The food is fresh and plentiful and cheap compared to French Polynesia.

Hope this is useful!

Karl

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Posted August 2015

Another cruiser’s positive experience in Apia from Derek Hillen of SV Asmara Sky

We are currently in Apia, Samoa and since there seems to be a lot of confusion among the cruising community concerning anchoring and the marina at Apia I wanted to write in with the facts – as they stand now as of late August 2015.

We have been here a month and highly recommend Samoa. It has been one of our favourite stops on our SPac crossing. Apia is the main town and capital and it is here you clear in and get things done.

On approach, call “Apia Port Control” on Ch. 16. It may take several calls to get a response. You will be directed to anchor at the head of the bay (21 feet mud, decent holding). The anchorage can easily accommodate a dozen or more boats and is very well protected.

Check-in is painless and free (quite different from the Cooks!). You then have a choice of staying in the anchorage or moving to the marina and it is HERE where all the confusion lies.

First, the harbormaster is in control of the anchorage. They want to charge everyone who anchors there $100 USD whether you anchor one night or 5 years. However, they never come to collect and to pay it one actually has to walk over to the harbormaster’s office waving a hundred dollar bill. Note: locals grumble that this “fee” is “not approved,” whatever that means. One is free to pay at their own discretion if they believe those fees to be legitimate.

The marina is now run – as of July 2015 – by Trevor and his business partner who have a 60-year lease. He is Samoan but lived and went to school in NZ and Australia and speaks perfect English. He is also a heck of a nice guy and the only certified commercial diver in Samoa. This means he is busy and hardly ever at the marina office which is where some of the other confusion comes from.

The dinghy dock is at the marina, right next to the ramp and below the guard post. To use the dinghy dock you must pay the marina $50 Tala a week (about $20 USD) but with it, you get the following services:

Full 24-hour security

Water

Showers

Toilets

Garbage disposal

So for all that it isn’t bad. However, since they just took over the marina business a month ago they haven’t had time to put up any signs explaining any of this. Previously, the marina was run by the gov’t with different rules and fees but now Trevor is in control and all that has been sorted.

We stayed in the marina for two weeks and for our 53-foot boat were charged $315 USD. And that was for unlimited water and unlimited power.

The marina is excellent – all Bellingham docks and fittings. Unfortunately, it was wiped out in the cyclone of 2012 (the one that took out Aggie Grey’s too) and they are rebuilding it but only have one dock up and going with about 20 total slips. The plan is to continue to rebuild.

We had a fantastic time here and highly recommend Samoa and Apia Marina. For more information see our website:  www.theseaissalt.com

Cheers.

Derek Hillen

SV Asmara Sky

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Posted June 2015

This report includes useful advice on the approach to the harbour, as well as reporting a very positive clearance experience from James Ellingford of MY Pendana.

Samoa Clearing in and out at Apia

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Posted May 2015

A less pleasant  experience from Marie Dufour of MV Domino

Apia, Samoa: Show me the tala

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Posted July 2013

UPDATE ON APIA MARINA

Yacht should be aware that this marina, which has 2 pontoons, has now, following complaints, closed one of them.

The reason for this is that the pontoon has not been repaired since it was damaged in the last cyclone; however, until recently boats were still being put on it despite its’ lack of water and electricity and the fact that shore access is dangerous from the pontoon.

The remaining pontoon has space for about 24 yachts, and it’s far side has difficult access with shallow water (< 2.1 meters at LW). As a result, the marina is almost full excepting for a couple of spaces for yachts under 43 ft. Other yachts are forced to anchor in the harbour (where they still pay marina fees).

An additional comment.

Whilst the people of Western Samoa are amongst the most friendly we have met anywhere in the Pacific, the location of Western Samoa (which lies in the path of many of the convergence zones which bring cloud, strong winds and a large amount of rainfall) should be taken into account for those intending to stop. Plus, for those wishing to subsequently visit Tonga, the prevalence of winds with a significant southerly component may necessitate some windward work en route between Western Samoa and any of the Tongan islands. Yachts in Suwarrow wishing to visit Tonga might, therefore, consider going direct to Nuitoputapu or Neiafu from Suwarrow, rather than trying to fit American or Western Samoa into their passage plans.

Suzie Roots
SV True Blue 1