The Samoa Ports Authority chief executive officer, So'oalo Kuresa So'oalo, said the IMUA II's normal route was from New Zealand via Fiji and then on to American Samoa.
Mr So'oalo did not give details about why the vessel was declined but underlined that the country's safety was the ultimate priority.
The Samoa Observer reports the ship's agent Swire Shipping would also not disclose information about the vessel.
