Port Overview
The Apia International Port is located at Matautu; a village to the east of the capital of Apia and it’s the main seaport gateway for Samoa accounting for nearly 100% of international freight movements.
The port is a natural monopoly, with a total length of 302m. The port provides facilities for international freight movements, container ships, fuel & gas tankers, cruise vessels, bulk petroleum products, coastal barge ramps and passenger facilities. The Port hosts a 25-pen yacht marina commissioned in 2011. On the opposite side of Apia harbour is a separate fishery port that caters for the local fisheries industry and hosts a full-time fish market and export packing facility.
The Apia Port supports the entire country’s consumer demand for all commodities including petroleum products, foodstuff, beverages, and automobiles and building products. In addition, Apia Port provides the gateway for Samoan export products to regional and global markets.
Port website: https://www.spasamoa.ws/apia-port-facilities/main-port
Key port information may also be found at: http://www.maritime-database.com
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Port Location and Contact |
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Country |
Samoa |
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Province or District |
Apia, Upolu Island |
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Nearest Town or City with Distance from Port |
Apia 0.5km |
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Port's Complete Name |
Apia Port |
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Latitude |
13.828333° S |
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Longitude |
171.7625° W |
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Managing Company or Port Authority
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Samoa Ports Authority |
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Management Contact Person |
So’oalo Kuresa So’oalo |
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Nearest Airport and Airlines with Frequent International Arrivals/Departures |
Faleolo International Airport Air NZ, Fiji Airways, Samoa Airways, Talofa Airways, Virgin Australia. |
Port Picture
1. Main berth 2. Container storage 3. Refrigerated container storage
4. Warehouse storage 5. Proposed cable storage 6. Fishing boats & small cargoes
7. Tug & police berthing 8. SSC ferries berthing 9. Fuel tanks
10. Tanks to be removed to provide additional container storage
11. SSC operations area 12. Port vehicle entrance
Description and Contacts of Key Companies
Oversight for operations within the Port rests with the Samoa Ports Authority (SPA). Samoa Shipping Corporation (SSC) operates Ro-Ro ferries and landing craft. Stevedoring is carried out by 3 companies contracted to SPA: Betham Brothers Enterprises (BBE), Pacific Forum Line (PFL) and Apia Stevedoring Ltd (ASL). The main transporters responsible for moving containers out of the Port are Betham Brothers Entreprises and Pacific Forum Line.
For more information on port contacts, please see the following link: HQ staff will input a link to section 4.4 Port and Waterways Companies Contact List here.
Port Performance
Channel draft is 12m but max draft at the wharf is 10.5m. The main limiting factor to performance is the port’s exposure to swells from the open sea at certain times of the year. This can cause disruption to be loading, unloading, and berthing. It can also result in vessels having to leave the port until swells subside. The port is not congested and there is generally no waiting time between arrival and berthing. Vessels should give 48 hours’ notice of arrival to ensure quick berthing and turnaround. The port is efficiently run, and turnaround times are generally quick with abundant stevedore labour available.
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Seasonal Constraints |
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Occurs |
Time Frame |
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Rainy Season |
No |
N/A |
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Major Import Campaigns |
No |
N/A |
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Other Comments |
‘Swell’ season occurs from October to March. Sea swells in the port may cause delays to berthing, or require removal of ships from the port (up to 4 days a week). |
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Handling Figures for 2023 |
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Vessel Calls |
498 |
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Container Traffic (TEUs) |
28,000 |
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Handling Figures Bulk and Break Bulk for 2023 |
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Bulk (MT) |
460,314 |
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Break bulk (MT) |
32,000 |
Discharge Rates and Terminal Handling Charges
For information on port rates and charges, please see the following link: https://samoaportsauthority.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/samoa-ports-authority-dues-and-rates-2014-271014-web-format.pdf
Berthing Specifications
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Type of Berth |
Quantity |
Length (m) |
Maximum Draft (m) |
Comments |
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Conventional Berth |
1 |
305 m |
10.5 m |
One berth only |
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Container Berth |
1 |
305 m |
10.5 m |
One berth only |
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Silo Berth |
N/A |
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Berthing Tugs |
2 |
28 m |
2.5 m |
Gross 121 MT each |
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Water Barges |
N/A |
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General Cargo Handling Berths
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Cargo Type |
Berth Identification |
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Imports - Bagged Cargo |
Main berth |
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Exports - Bagged Cargo |
Main berth |
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Imports and Exports - RoRo |
Main berth |
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Other Imports |
Main berth |
Port Handling Equipment
The Samoa Ports Authority is a state-owned enterprise established under its governing legislation: The Ports Authority Act 1998 (“the Act”) as amended from time to time and with its financial obligations regulated under financial laws such as Public Finance Management Act 2001 and Public Bodies (Performance and Accountability) Act 2001.
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Equipment |
Available
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Total Quantity and Capacity Available |
Comments on Current Condition and Actual Usage |
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Dockside Crane |
No |
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|
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Container Gantries |
No |
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|
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Mobile Cranes |
Yes |
1 x 50 mt 2 x 30 mt |
Good |
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Reachstacker |
Yes |
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RoRo Tugmaster (with Trailer) |
No |
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Grain Elevator with Bagging Machines |
N/A |
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Transtainer |
Yes |
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Forklifts |
Yes |
4 x 15 mt 7 x 30 mt |
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Container Facilities
Containers are stacked on asphalt area.
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Facilities |
20 ft |
40 ft |
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Container Facilities Available |
2,800 m2 area for stacking |
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Container Freight Station (CFS) |
N/A |
N/A |
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Refrigerated Container Stations |
N/A |
N/A |
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Other Capacity Details |
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Daily Take Off Capacity |
150-200 |
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Number of Reefer Stations |
150 |
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Emergency Take-off Capacity |
400 in a 24 hour period |
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Off take Capacity of Gang Shift |
150 - 200 |
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Customs Guidance
Customs offices are located adjacent to the port. Customs office hours are 0900 – 1500, however, officials are available for all arrivals.
Port authorities should be notified 48 hours prior to vessel arrivals to ensure efficient turnaround and most vessels will be cleared in a few hours, unless there is risk of biosecurity in which case vessels will be required to anchor offshore so that customs inspections can be completed before vessels enter the port.
For more information on customs in SAMOA, please see the following link: 1.3 Customs Information
Terminal Information
MULTIPURPOSE TERMINAL
There is a single berth available for all unloading, Roll on Roll off, containerised and bulk palletised cargo.
GRAIN AND BULK HANDLING
There are no facilities available for handling grain at the port.
MAIN STORAGE TERMINAL
There are two warehouse facilities within the port area, approximately 2,000 m2 each; these are generally 80% full. Facilities are basic but secure. Of the two available facilities, 50% of one is leased to a fishing company and that space is fully utilised by them.
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Storage Type |
Number of Storage Facilities |
Area (m2) |
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Bagged Cargo |
N/A |
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Refrigerated Cargo |
N/A |
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General Cargo |
2 |
3000 m2 |
Stevedoring
Three private companies carry out stevedoring activities. There is a plentiful supply of labour available locally. Most of the cargo arrives containerised and is loaded directly onto trucks to be either stacked in the port area or is transported directly out of the port.
Hinterland Information
Private transport companies move cargo items from the port. Similarly, there is a sufficient local supply of flatbed trucks for the carriage of bulk and break-bulk cargo in either loose, or palletised form.
Port Security
The port is well-fenced, and security is present within this secured area and at the entry point 24/7. All traffic is monitored entering and exiting. There is a manned police post inside the port compound. New Zealand and Australian safety codes are the standard and are monitored by port authorities. There are no obvious areas of security concerns.
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Security |
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ISPS Compliant |
Yes |
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Current ISPS Level |
1 |
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Police Boats |
Yes (1) |
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Fire Engines |
Not on port side Distance to Apia Fire Station is approximately 0.5 Km. |
