Starting Tuesday, the MV Lady Samoa III will be out of service as it makes its way to Fiji for drydocking in Suva for about two weeks.

The servicing by the Samoa Shipping Corporation, Chief Executive Officer Papalii Willie Nansen says, will follow the MVLSIII being taken to Fiji due to the American Samoa slip away no longer being operated.

Scheduled ferry times will not be affected, he said.

"The schedule times remain the same and MV Lady Naomi and MV S.S.C. Faasefulu will be added to the service to alleviate any backlog experienced with vehicles," he said.

On Monday afternoon, S.S.C. notified the public of the changes on vessels to be expected once the MVLSIII is out.

"Please be informed the MVLN is now scheduled, effective [from] Tuesday 10 March, 2020 to substitute all MVLSIII trips until her maintenance is completed. MVLN's first trip tomorrow is the 4 pm MVLSIII sailing," their Facebook post reads.

"Also MV SSC 40 and FOSII will also be in service during this time."

The MVLSIII has been in service for 10 years now.

Papalii said maintenance work is carried out to the vessel on a weekly basis but comprehensive repairs and engine overhauls require the vessel to be taken out of service on a quarterly basis.

"Drydocking works requires the vessels to be taken out of service every two and a half years for Immediate Survey whereas on the [fifth] year, the vessel has to undergo a 5 year full survey by classification society which is Lloyd's Register of Shipping of which we register MV Lady Samoa III and our local Flag Administration," he said.

"The objective of ship classification is to verify the structural strength and integrity of essential parts of the ship's hull and its machinery, the reliability and function of the propulsion and steering systems, power generation and those other features and auxiliary systems which have been built into the ship in order to maintain essential services on board.

"Classification Societies aim to achieve this objective through the development and application of their own rules and by verifying compliance with international and/or national statutory regulations on behalf of Flag Administrations."