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Samoa - Maritime Surveillance Unit

The Samoan Police Service Police Maritime Wing undertakes Maritime Surveillance of the Samoa Islands and the Economic Exclusion Zone. It is responsible for offshore border control enforcement, investigations, compliance and detention operations in Samoa.

Since Samoa's independence in 1962 no military has been formed, however, there is a small police force and a Maritime Surveillance Unit for internal security. The Maritime Surveillance Unit is equipped with small arms, and maintained one Pacific class patrol boat, the Nafanua. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Samoa Police Services carry out joint operations in ensuring fisheries resources are conserved and maintained. It is an offence to operate an establishment for the process, trade and market of any fish without the required licence under the Fisheries Management Act 2016. In accordance to a 1962 Treaty of Friendship, New Zealand is responsible for defense.

American Samoa, a distinct and separate jurisdiction, has consistently enlisted more soldiers per capita than any other United States territory or state. With many naval bases supporting the Pacific fleets, the naval Activities of Guam is the closest military base outside of Andersen naval base to American Samoa.

The Pacific Maritime Surveillance Program Aerial Surveillance will provide up to 1,400 hours of aerial surveillance each year across the Central and Western Pacific through two dedicated long-range aircraft based in the region. The surveillance, in conjunction with the Pacific Patrol Boat program will provide targeted maritime patrolling and enhance the ability of Pacific Island Countries to defend against regional maritime security threats such as illegal fishing and transnational crime. The Pacific Maritime Security Program is an important investment in regional security. Australia is committed to further strengthening the capabilities of Pacific Island countries so they can work together in support of shared interests.

The Pacific Patrol Boat (PPB) is a small vessel capable of maritime surveillance and interdiction, search and rescue operations, and fisheries protection. As part of the patrol role, the PPB has been used for the customs inspections of ships, and have apprehended some drug running and smuggling activities. Nafanua was one of 22 Pacific Class Patrol Boat built and donated by Australia to 12 South Pacific countries between 1985 and 1997. The ship is the fourth of the class, delivered in 1988, and named after the Nafanua – a famous Samoan Warrior Princess and a legend in Polynesian mythology.

The Guardian-class patrol boats are a class of small patrol vessels designed and built in Australia for small Pacific Ocean countries. The vessels are 39.5 metres long, capable of traveling 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km) at 12 knots, with a maximum speed of 20 knots. They are designed to berth a complement of 23 crew members. They will have a stern launching ramp for a pursuit boat. Austal delivers the vessels without armament, but they were designed to be capable of mounting an autocannon of up to 30 millimetres on their foredeck, and a heavy machine gun on either side of their bridge.

Nafanua II was the fourth vessel constructed and be handed over to the Government of Samoa in August 2019. The vessel returned to Samoa in September 2019 to commence operations. The Nafanua II was gifted to Samoa by Australia under its AU$2 billion 30-year Pacific Maritime Security Programme. Samoa is one of 12 Pacific Island nations (as well as Timor Leste) recipients of that vessel type, which are being delivered between 2018–2023. Nafanua II, the first Guardian Class patrol boat delivered to Samoa, crashed into a reef in August 2021.

Working with the Government of Samoa, crews from the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Juniper (WLB 201) and USCGC Joseph Gerczak (WPC 1126) conducted security patrol operations in Samoa’s exclusive economic zone throughout February 2022, to protect fisheries and other natural resources. The Juniper and Joseph Gerczak crews helped fill the operational presence needed to deter illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing while Samoa’s Nafanua II patrol boat is down. The cutters have been underway in Oceania supporting Operation Aiga, designed to integrate Coast Guard capabilities and operations with the United States’ Pacific Island Country partners in order to effectively and efficiently protect shared national interests, combat IUU fishing and strengthen maritime governance on the high seas.

The United States 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 on board. In 2021, the crew of the CGC Oliver Berry conducted similar patrols while Samoa’s patrol boat underwent repairs. “Operation Aiga is named that for a reason. Aiga means family in Samoan and that’s how we view our Pacific neighbours,” says U.S. Ambassador to Samoa, Ambassador Udall. “This is real partnership. Together we can stop those who seek to steal valuable resources that simply don’t belong to them.”

Samoa’s lone patrol boat, Nafanua II, was declared ‘beyond economic repair’ 04 March 2022 and will not return to service. Accordingly, the Samoan and Australian governments were looking at options for disposal for the vessel which was only commissioned in 2019. Samoa was one of the first Pacific states to trade its legacy Pacific patrol boat for a replacement Guardian class vessel.

According to a joint press statement issued by the Australian High Commission and the Samoan Government “Samoa and Australia were saddened by the unfortunate grounding of Samoa’s Guardian-class Patrol Boat, Nafanua II in August last year. Technical specialists from Australia were contracted to undertake the successful salvage operation, which had minimal environmental impact. Following its arrival in Cairns, a thorough assessment of Nafanua II was undertaken. This assessment found the vessel to be beyond economical repair. Ownership of Nafanua II is being transferred from the Government of Samoa to the Australian Government as we look at options for disposal. Australia remains a committed maritime security partner for Samoa, continuing to provide support to ensure the ongoing protection of Samoa’s Exclusive Economic Zone, including through collaboration with regional partners. Australia is working closely with Samoa to address Samoa’s maritime security needs. Australia is proud to partner with our Pacific family to enhance and coordinate continued maritime regional security.”

Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affair, stated 02 June 2022 "that we would announce today a replacement Guardian-class patrol boat to replace the Nafanua II. I know that this will occur in about, next year, so we obviously have some production time, but we do understand how important these maritime assets are to island nations." The vessel is set to replaced

Prime Minister Fiame: "Can we all clap? Yeah. Can I just say that our Government is very appreciative of this further development in our partnership with Australia. I think it's very generous on the part of the Australian Government and people that they are gifting as yet another patrol boat, despite the unfortunate circumstances of our last boat. And I hope that the lessons learned from that unfortunate appearance will help us ensure that we can keep these assets that are generously gifted by our partners and especially in a very critical area of our maritime security."