August 5, 1998

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. ---- FALEOMAVAEGA MEETS WITH OFFICIALS OF NEW SHIPPING LINE TO SAMOA

CONGRESSMAN FALEOMAVAEGA ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT HE WAS PLEASED TO MEET RECENTLY WITH MR. JUERGEN PUMP, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER OF PACIFIC SERVICES FOR THE COLUMBUS LINE, A SUBSIDIARY COMPANY OF HAMBURG SUG CORPORATION FROM GERMANY

HAMBURG SUG RECENTLY PURCHASED THE SOUTH SEAS STEAMSHIP FROM A NORWEGIAN COMPANY, A/S THOR DAHL. THEY PLAN TO CONTINUE PROVIDING MARINE TRANSPORT SERVICES BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND AMERICAN SAMOA, AS WELL AS OTHER KEY PACIFIC PORTS SUCH AS SAMOA, TONGA, NEW ZEALAND, FIJI AND TAHITI.

"AS AN ISLAND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC, SHIPPING IS THE LIFELINE FOR SAMOA -- AND I AM PLEASED TO HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET AND RECEIVE ASSURANCES FROM HAMBURG SUG THAT THEY PLAN NOT ONLY TO CONTINUE, BUT ALSO STRENGTHEN SHIPPING SERVICES BETWEEN THE WEST COAST AND THE PACIFIC REGION, INCLUDING SAMOA," SAID FALEOMAVAEGA.

HAMBURG SUG, WITH ASSETS OF US$1.2 BILLION, HAS NEARLY 130 YEARS OF GLOBAL MARINE TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS EXPERIENCE. IT IS GERMANY'S LARGEST PRIVATELY OWNED SHIPPING COMPANY, AND PART OF THE OETKER GROUP -- A HIGHLY DIVERSIFIED ORGANIZATION WITH INTERESTS IN SHIPPING, HOTELS, FOOTSTUFFS, BEVERAGE AND TOURISM. THE COMPANY'S HEADQUARTERS IS LOCATED IN GERMANY.