A Cook Islands fishing vessel had to make quick arrangements to procure a US flag in order for it to enter American Samoa this week.
Te Ravakai, which is originally from the Cook Islands and fishes out of Apia in neighbouring Samoa, tried to come in to port to off load fish for the StarKist cannery.
The vessel was unable to enter the harbour until it could to procure a US flag through its local shipping agent.
Harbor Master, Silila Patane, explained that as a matter of courtesy foreign vessels entering any port displays the flag of the host nation.
He said he made his disappointment known to the captain of the Te Ravakai, a New Zealander.