The MV ''Tokelau'' was an inter-island ferry which served as

Tokelau Tokelau (; ; known previously as the Union Islands, and, until 1976, known officially as the Tokelau Islands) is a dependent territory of New Zealand in the southern Pacific Ocean. It consists of three tropical coral atolls: Atafu, Nukunonu, a ...

's main transport connection to the world from 1991 to 2012. The ship was built in 1991 as a 19m catamaran for use within Tokelau. In 2000 it was converted to a mono-hull and lengthened to 30m in order to run an

Apia Apia () is the Capital (political), capital and largest city of Samoa, as well as the nation's only city. It is located on the central north coast of Upolu, Samoa's second-largest island. Apia falls within the political district (''itūmālō ...

to Tokelau service. In 2003 the ''Tokelau'' rescued two Tokelauan fishermen missing near

Atafu Atafu, formerly known as the Duke of York Group, is a group of 52 coral islets within Tokelau in the south Pacific Ocean, north of Samoa. With a land area of , it is the smallest of the three islands that constitute Tokelau. It is an atoll and su ...

. In 2005 it delivered aid to Tokelau in the aftermath of

Cyclone Percy Cyclone Percy was the seventh named storm of the 2004–05 South Pacific cyclone season and the fourth and final severe tropical cyclone to form during the 2004–05 South Pacific cyclone season. Cyclone Percy originated as a tropical disturbance ...

. In 2007 the vessel broke down in

Fakaofo Fakaofo, formerly known as Bowditch Island, is a South Pacific Ocean atoll located in the Tokelau Group. The actual land area is only about 3 km2 (1.1 sq mi), consisting of islets on a coral reef surrounding a central lagoon of some 45 k ...

and its passengers and cargo had to be transport by the

American Samoa American Samoa ( sm, Amerika Sāmoa, ; also ' or ') is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the island country of Samoa. Its location is centered on . It is east of the International ...

n government vessel, MV ''Sili''. In 2010 three men drowned when the boat they were using to ferry cargo to the ''Tokelau'' capsized in rough seas off

. Concerns about the ship's age began to be raised in 2006, and the Tokelauan government request the government of New Zealand to purchase a replacement. The request was repeated following the ''Princess Ashika'' disaster in 2009. The New Zealand government commissioned a report, but took no other action. In 2012, following a direct appeal from the ''Ulu-o-Tokelau'' Kerisiano Kalolo the New Zealand government agreed to fund the construction of a new ferry, and to lease a replacement in the interim. In February 2016 the vessel was finally replaced by the MV ''Mataliki''. In 2013 the ship was gifted to the government of

Samoa Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa; sm, Sāmoa, and until 1997 known as Western Samoa, is a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands (Savai'i and Upolu); two smaller, inhabited islands (Manono Island, Manono an ...

as it was no longer considered fit to ferry passengers. It was operated by the

Samoa Shipping Corporation The Samoa Shipping Corporation is a government-owned company in Samoa which provides freight and passenger services between Savai'i, Upolu and American Samoa. Established in 1974, the corporation is managed as a public trading body under the Publ ...

as the MV ''Pasefika Express'' to transport passengers and cargo between

Upolu Upolu is an island in Samoa, formed by a massive basaltic shield volcano which rises from the seafloor of the western Pacific Ocean. The island is long and in area, making it the second largest of the Samoan Islands by area. With approximatel ...

and Savai'i until it was sold to a private owner in October 2022.

References

{{reflist 1991 ships Ships of New Zealand Ships of Samoa Tokelau