The crew of a fishing vessel from Samoa are safe and well in American Samoa.

The vessel owned by Luafutu Fa’amoana, of Poutasi, Falealili, was discovered at the Pago Pago dock area behind the Taoa building.

Samoa News reported that the the alia with its three-member crew aboard drifted away from Samoa last Friday after they lost their way home.

American Samoa Police Commissioner, Le’i Sonny Thompson, confirmed the discovery in response to questions from Samoa News.

“D.P.S. officers who responded to the call searched the vessel for any contraband or illegal drugs and nothing was found inside,” he is quoted as saying.

“The three fishermen who were aboard the vessel are in good health and are staying with a family in Lauli’i to await their travel documents before traveling home to Samoa.”

The Police Commissioner said that the owner of the fishing vessel has been contacted, and he’s expected to arrive in American Samoa sometime this week to take his boat back to Samoa.

D.P.S. also contacted the Immigration Office in regards to the three individuals who were on the vessel, and they are working together with the Samoa Consulate General’s Office in preparing travel document for the crew.

According to the Police report, the crew stated that the vessel embarked from Poutasi Falealili to fish last Friday.

However, when they prepared to return, they could not see any lights or land and realized they were lost. 

The operator of the vessel then let the boat drift on its own because they had little gas left and he hoped to reach land.

It was when they observed lights nearby and discovered that they were heading to Tutuila island that they used the last of their gas to reach Pago Pago harbor. 

As soon as they docked, they approached an individual named Tuiasea of Pago Pago and requested help.

The D.P.S. officers, the Marine Patrol Unit, and the Vice and Narcotics Unit responded to the call. 

The Immigration Office was contacted for assistance in documenting the crew, who had no identification on them. The fishing vessel belongs to Samoa a businessman.

It was not possible to get a comment from the Owner of the fishing boat yesterday.