LCA Samoa.Pdf
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LCA - Samoa Version 1 Logistics Capacity Assessment Samoa Country Name Samoa Independent State of Samoa Official Name Samoan: Malo Sa'oloto Tuto'atasi o Sāmoa Formerly known as; Western Samoa Assessment Assessment Dates: From 1st April 2012 To 31st May 2012 Name of Assessor Daniel Adriaens and Bart Deelen Title & Position Logistics Officer Email Contact [email protected] Page 1 of 125 LCA - Samoa Version 1 Table of Contents 1. Country Profile .................................................................................................................................................................... 4 1.2. Introduction & Background ..................................................................................................................................... 14 1.3. Humanitarian Background ...................................................................................................................................... 17 1.4. National Regulatory Departments .......................................................................................................................... 32 1.5. Customs Information ............................................................................................................................................... 36 2. Logistics Infrastructure ..................................................................................................................................................... 41 2.1. Port Assessment ..................................................................................................................................................... 43 2.2. Airport Assessment ................................................................................................................................................. 65 2.3. Road Assessment ................................................................................................................................................... 83 2.4. Railway Assessment ............................................................................................................................................... 86 2.5. Waterways Assessment .......................................................................................................................................... 87 2.6. Storage Assessment .............................................................................................................................................. 92 2.7. Milling Assessment ................................................................................................................................................. 94 3. Logistics Services ............................................................................................................................................................. 97 3.1. Fuel .......................................................................................................................................................................... 97 3.2. Transporters ......................................................................................................................................................... 102 3.3. Vehicle Rental ...................................................................................................................................................... 106 3.4. Taxi Companies ................................................................................................................................................... 106 3.5. Freight Forwarding Agents .................................................................................................................................. 107 3.6. Handling Equipment ............................................................................................................................................. 108 3.7. Electricity & Power ............................................................................................................................................... 108 3.8. Manual Labour Costs ........................................................................................................................................... 112 3.9. Telecommunications ............................................................................................................................................ 112 3.10. Local Supplies Market .......................................................................................................................................... 118 3.11. Accommodation .................................................................................................................................................... 119 4. Scenarios & Contingencies ........................................................................................................................................... 120 4.1. Refugees and IDPs .............................................................................................................................................. 120 4.2. Food Security ....................................................................................................................................................... 120 4.3. Natural Disaster .................................................................................................................................................... 120 4.4. Other (please specify) .......................................................................................................................................... 121 5. Annexes ......................................................................................................................................................................... 122 5.1. Annex 1: List of Contacts ..................................................................................................................................... 122 5.2. Annex 2: Relevant Websites applicable to this LCA .......................................................................................... 122 5.3. Annex 3: Maps ...................................................................................................................................................... 122 5.4. Annex 4: Miscellaneous ....................................................................................................................................... 122 Page 2 of 125 LCA - Samoa Version 1 Page 3 of 125 LCA - Samoa Version 1 1. Country Profile Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa, is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. The country is made up of nine volcanic islands, two of which - Savai'i and Upolu - make up more than 99% of the land. The capital city, Apia, and Faleolo International Airport are situated on the island of Upolu. Samoa was governed by New Zealand until its people voted for independence in 1962. It has the world's second-largest Polynesian group, after the Maori. Samoa was admitted to the United Nations on 15 December 1976. The entire island group, inclusive of American Samoa, was called Navigators Islands by European explorers before the 20th century because of the Samoans' seafaring skills. In Samoa there is a constitutional monarch—currently His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II—who is head of state and has the power to dissolve the 49-member legislature (Fono). The prime minister is head of government. The members of the legislative assembly, who must have matai titles, are elected for five-year terms. The voting age is 21. Samoa's deeply conservative and devoutly Christian society centres on the extended family, which is headed by an elected chief who directs the family's social, economic and political affairs, and the church, which is a focus of recreational and social life. Many Samoan villages hold up to 20 minutes of prayer curfews in the evenings. The economy revolves around fishing and agriculture, which is vulnerable to cyclones and disease. Attempts at diversification have met with success. Tourism is growing, thanks to the islands' scenic attractions and fine beaches. Offshore banking spearheads an expanding services sector. Light manufacturing is expanding and has attracted foreign investment. In a major development for its trading status, Samoa has agreed terms that should allow it to join the World Trade Organisation in 2012. Page 4 of 125 LCA - Samoa Version 1 Despite this, many younger Samoans are leaving for New Zealand, the US and American Samoa. Money sent home by Samoans living abroad can be a key source of household income. 1.1.1. Geography Samoa is located south of the equator, about halfway between Hawai‘i and New Zealand in the Polynesian region of the Pacific Ocean. The total land area is 2,934 km² (1,133 sq mi), slightly smaller than the U.S. state of Rhode Island). As the larger and western part of the Samoan Archipelago, Samoa lies in the south- west Pacific between 13º 25’ and 14º 05’ south of the equator, and between 171º 23’ and 172º 48’ west longitudes. It comprises two main islands, seven smaller islands, and islets and rocks. Its total land area is about 2,820 sq km, with the two main islands of Upolu and Savaii containing 1,115 and 1,700 sq km respectively. The capital Apia is located about midway on the north coast of Upolu, and lies about 130 km from Pago Pago, American Samoa, 3,000 km from Auckland, New Zealand, and 4,500 km from Sydney, Australia. The topography of Samoa is rugged and mountainous,