American Samoa Administrative Code

(a) Prohibition. Commercial carriers shall not permit anyone to consume food or beverages while traveling in buses and taxis. (b) Sign Required. Each commercial carrier operating a bus or taxi shall conspicuously post a sign in each vehicle notifying passengers that eating and dr…

Each operator of a commercial passenger vehicle must display his or her valid, government issued photo identification in a common area that is readily viewable to the passengers. A photocopy of the identification shall be sufficient to comply with this section. History: Comm. Com…

(a) Pursuant to ASCA 13.1303, it is prohibited to smoke in a passenger commercial vehicle, whether taxi or bus. (b) The operator of the commercial vehicle shall have the duty to make every reasonable effort to prohibit smoking in the vehicle, including by posting conspicuous sign…

An operator of a commercial passenger vehicle, or other person collecting fares, shall not charge or collect a fee or rate more than that set forth in this chapter. History: Comm. Commn. Regs., eff 1 Jan 73. Reg. 1.02; amd 2012, Rule 01-2012, eff 1 Oct 12. Amendments: 2012, chang…

A copy of the rates set forth in this chapter shall be posted in a conspicuous place in every commercial passenger vehicle such that they may be seen by the passengers. The operator of the commercial passenger vehicle must provide the rate schedule upon request of a passenger. Hi…

(a) The following are the maximum permissible rates per trip regardless of the number of passengers carried: Village/Area One Way Fare West From Market Place (Fagatogo) Fagatogo $2.00 Sadie’s by the Sea 2.00 Utulei 2.00 Old Tramway 2.00 Faga’alu 3.50 Fatumafuti 3.75 Matu’u 4.25 V…

(a) Each taxi shall contain identifying markings identifying the vehicle as a taxi. The markings shall meet the minimum physical standards of this section: (1) The markings shall appear on both sides of the taxi; (2) The letters shall contrast sharply in color with the background…

(a) The following one-way rates shall be charged by commercial buses as maximum rates: Route Fare (1) Congestion Area. From the Marist Fathers’ Rectory in Atu’u to the end of Faga’alu village…………………………………………………………………………………………….. $ 1.00 (2) Western District. From Fagatogo (market …

The provisions of 19.0180 ASAC to the contrary notwithstanding, the maximum one- way rate that may be charged by commercial buses for full-time students enrolled at the American Samoa Community College is $0.50 subject to the following conditions: (1) The student must present to …

(a) All buses shall have an entrance exit on the right side of such vehicle to be used for passenger entrance and exit. (b) All buses shall have a rear door to be used as an emergency exit only. Emergency exit doors shall be at a minimum two feet wide and four feet tall, and easy…

As loading stations are established, all commercial vehicles shall pick up or discharge passengers only in such specified zones or other areas. At all times commercial vehicles shall be completely off the road when picking up or discharging passengers. History: Comm. Commn. Regs.…

(a) The safety inspector of the Commission shall determine each bus’ maximum occupancy based on the number of seats available in the bus, the type of vehicle, the length of the passenger-carrying compartment, the length such passenger-carrying compartment protrudes behind the rea…

The following provisions of the federal motor carrier safety regulations in force and which may hereafter be adopted, where not clearly inapplicable to American Samoa, are adopted and made applicable in American Samoa for the purposes of administering and enforcing the motor carr…

(a) In support of the safe transportation and movement of hazardous materials and wastes on the public highways of American Samoa, employees of the American Samoa Government assigned to administer the federal motor carrier safety assistance program in American Samoa are authorize…

The board of marine inspectors has been established pursuant to 20.0203 A.S.C.A., which reads as follows: “There is hereby created a Board of Marine Inspectors composed of five qualified persons appointed by the Governor of American Samoa, which shall have general superintendence…

(a) In 20.0204 A.S.C.A., the board of marine inspectors is granted the following authority: (1) To issue registers and certificates of inspection (hull and machinery) for the operation of vessels; (2) To issue license for masters, pilots and engineers alter appropriate written an…

It is the Legislature’s declared purpose in 20.0201 A.S.C.A., to establish standards for the protection and promotion of the health, safety, and general welfare of the people of the territory in dealing with vessels operating in interisland and coastwise shipping in American Samo…

Vessels while laid up and out of commission are exempt from any and all inspection by the board. Before a vessel is placed back in operation, an inspection by the board shall be made to ascertain that all rules required are complied with. History: Bd. of Mar. Insp. Regs., eff 16 …

Any vessel owned or operated by the ASG or the United States is exempt from inspection by the board unless it is requested to do so. History: Bd. of Mar. Insp. Regs., eff 16 Oct 72, § 1.05.

As used in the rules set forth in this chapter and elsewhere in this title, the words in this section mean as follows: (a) “approved”, when applied to safe equipment approved, shall in all cases means United States Coast Guard approved or any foreign nation signatory to the Inter…

Section 20.0230 A.S.C.A., grants the board authority to inspect foreign vessels entering Pago Pago Harbor carrying goods or people to or from American Samoa to ascertain if the vessel’s safety precautions and equipment meet the standards established by Chapter 20.02 A.S.C.A., and…

It is declared to be the policy of the board that the safety standards established in the law and the rules set out in this chapter and elsewhere in this title are minimum safety standards which should be met by all vessels operating in interisland and coastwise shipping in Ameri…

All vessels entering Pago Pago Harbor operating in interisland or coastwise shipping carrying goods or people to or from American Samoa, shall be subject to periodic inspection by the board to determine if the vessel meets the safety standards as established by Chapter 20.02 ASCA…

All foreign vessels must have a master and engineer licensed by the country of the vessel’s registry. The license of the master and engineer must be produced upon demand of the board if the master or engineer fails to produce their license on demand, the vessel may be prohibited …

If the board determines that a foreign vessel has been registered, licensed, and inspected by a marine board of comparable jurisdiction in the vessel’s home port or country of registry the board will give consideration to the foreign board’s standards to determine if the vessel m…

The board shall, once in every year and oftener, if it is determined necessary by them, carefully inspect every vessel licensed by the board. Such inspection shall determine that all requirements of law, such as seaworthiness, lifesaving equipment, firefighting equipment, pumps, …

(a) It shall be the duty of the board to provide blank certificates of registry and inspection. Such register shall cover ownership of the vessel, residence and citizen ship of owner and if there be more than 1 owner, the proportion of ownership to each owner his residence and ci…

Whenever the master or person having charge of a vessel registered under the laws of American Samoa is changed, the owner, or 1 of the owners shall request authorization for such change as soon as possible from the board. Thereupon the board shall endorse upon the certificate of …

If any vessel registered under the laws of American Samoa is sold or transferred in whole or in part, by way of trust, confidence or otherwise, to any other person and such sale or transfer is not be made known immediately to the board, such vessel, together with her tackle, appa…

No master, agent or owner shall in any way change the name of a registered vessel without the authorization of the board. There shall be levied a fee of $100 for every change of a vessel’s name. History: Bd. of Mar. Insp. Regs., eff 16 Oct 72, § 3.04.

A certificate of inspection or registry provided for in this chapter may be refused, revoked, suspended, limited, or modified for any I or combination of the following: (1)Failure to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter or valid rules of the board in furtherance of t…

No person shall operate as the master or engineer of any vessel engaged in the coastwise or interisland traffic of American Samoa and adjacent waters until he has been duly licensed under this chapter. History: Bd. of Mar. Insp. Regs., eff 16 Oct 72, § 6.01.

Master of American Samoa registered vessels: (1) Show written evidence of at least 4 years experience in the deck department of a vessel; (2) Successfully pass a physical examination and color blindness test; (3) Successfully pass a written and practical examination in seamanship…

All persons operating or performing technical duties on vessels engaged in coastwise or interisland traffic in American Samoa or adjacent waters shall be duly licensed as an engineer. The qualifications for issuance of an engineer’s license are as follows: (1) The individual must…

All licenses shall be renewed every 5 years when the holder of the license has been actively engaged in maritime activities for that period continuously, and once every year if the holder is not so engaged. History: Bd. of Mar. Insp. Regs., eff 16 Oct 72, § 6.04.

Any license issued by the board may be refused, revoked, suspended, limited or modified by the board for any 1 or combination of the following: (1) Fraud or misrepresentation in obtaining a license authorized to be issued by the provisions of this chapter; (2) Breach of duty tend…

The board may detain any foreign or domestic vessel temporarily to determine if there exists a violation of 20.0401 A.S.C.A., or the rules contained in this title. If after an inspection, the board determines a violation does exist and the safety of the passengers and crew are in…

Nothing in the rules set forth in this chapter and elsewhere in this title shall be construed as limiting the board from making such tests or inspections as are reasonable and practicable to be assured of the seaworthiness and safety of the vessel. History: Bd. of Mar. lnsp. Regs…

The board may allow a vessel limited authority to carry passengers if the vessel owner establishes to the satisfaction of the board he is unable to immediately comply with the rules set forth in this chapter and elsewhere in this title. The authority exercised pursuant to this se…

Any person who violates any of the provisions of Chapter 20.02 A.S.C.A., may be subject to a summary fine of $100 per violation. History: Bd. of Mar. Insp. Regs., eff 16 Oct 72, § 8.01.

Notwithstanding any other penalties, any person who is convicted or found guilty in a court of law of violating any section of this chapter or any rules promulgated thereto is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not more than $1,000 or be imprisoned not more than 1 year or…

The name of every registered vessel of American Samoa shall be marked on each bow and upon the stern, and the home port shall also be marked upon the stem. These names shall be painted or consist of cut or carved or cast Roman letters in light color on a dark background or in a d…

Numerals indicating the draft shall be permanently secured or cut into the stem and stern of every registered vessel. Measurement shall be in English feet, taken from the bottom of the keel, and extend 1 foot above the maximum draft allowed. The bottom of each numeral shall indic…

The stability of the vessel will be established prior to the establishment of the load waterlines and marks thereof indicating the maximum depth to which any vessel may be safely loaded, and in establishing such load lines, due consideration will be given to, and differentials ma…

Every vessel shall be equipped with emergency steering apparatus consisting of relieving tackle or hand steering gear by which the vessel can be steered independently of the regular steering gear. History: Bd. of Mar. Insp. Regs., eff 16 Oct 72, § 4.05.

All equipment of a vessel such as fire hose, axes, boats, rafts, oars, life preservers, life buoys, wooden benches, and deck chairs shall be painted or branded with the name of the vessel on which they are used. History: Bd. of Mar. Insp. Regs., eff 16 Oct 72, § 4.06.

(a) Less than 100 gross tons: not less than 4 watertight, transverse bulkheads. There shall be a forepeak bulkhead located not less than 5% of the length of the vessel from the bow, 1 bulkhead at the forward end of machinery space, and 1 bulkhead aft of the machinery space and 1 …

Not more than 12 hours before departure from any port, the steering gear, whistle, and telegraphs between pilothouse and engineroom shall be tested and entered in the ship’s logbook. History: Bd. of Mar. Insp. Regs., eff 16 Oct 72, § 4.08.

Every vessel shall be equipped with a suitable radio telephone, or with radio transmitter and receivers to send and to receive. Such equipment is to be properly maintained and in work order. A radio check is a requirement not more than 1 hour before departure. Vessels underway sh…

Vessels using telegraph between the pilothouse and engineroom shall also be fitted with a voice tube or sound-powered telephone for the purpose of conversation between pilothouse and engineroom. Vessels equipped with wheel house engine controls shall have an alternate means of co…