Opposition leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi is urging the government to establish a commission of inquiry into the purchase of the $13 million MV Aurora V.

The ferry was due to arrive last year, but it did not happen, and now the purchase has been cancelled. The cancellation also means that a certain amount of the $13 million will be lost.

Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt, during his press conference last week, said that the ferry is unsafe to travel between Upolu and Savai'i.

Tuilaepa urged the government that there should be a commission of inquiry into the plan to purchase this ferry because he was totally against it due to the fact that it was not safe to travel between Upolu and Savaii.

"As I've said before, this ferry is very low and it will kill up to 200 people if it travels between Upolu and Savaii," he said.

"The ferry is not a model for Samoa's waters.

"I told the owner of the ferry before that if he wants to sue me, go ahead because I know what I'm talking about and that the ferry is not for Samoa."

Dr Stuart Ballantyne, chairman of Seatransport Pty Ltd and chief designer of the Aurora V ferry, said the Samoan government has cancelled the purchase of the $13 million vessel intended for travel between Upolu and Savai’i.

He maintained that the ferry was safe.

Ballantyne said in a written response to the Samoa Observer's questions that he learned “with disappointment” of the cancellation of the catamaran ferry purchase. He said the decision “has been made based on personal offences within the political leadership, rather than what is good for Samoa.”

His statement follows comments by Lauaulialemalietoa, who said advice received from an engineer indicated the ferry was unsafe. The prime minister also said authorities were working to determine the vessel’s whereabouts. The Aurora V was scheduled to arrive in Samoa last year, in November.

Ballantyne said Seatransport was awaiting a written cancellation, which would be forwarded to their legal team to see if they have to refund any of the money that had been paid by the Samoan government.