Transport hitch as ferries stall

by Patrick Beja

Two ferries stalled causing a transport hitch in Likoni, Mombasa.

On Wednesday night, passengers and motorists were stranded for about one hour after the MV Kilindini, which was the only one in operation, suffered an engine failure.

The vessel developed mechanical problems after landing on the Mombasa Island ramp.

Ferry users were stranded on both sides of the Likoni Channel as engineers were called on board to restart the engine.

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A ferry transporting commuters across Likoni Channel. The vessels sometimes stall midstream causing panic. Photo: File/Standard

It came to life at about 10pm and made a trip to the South mainland before it was withdrawn and replaced with MV Pwani.

A passenger, Mwanaisha Bandari, said she was delayed for about one hour.

"The ferry remained at the island ramp without a word from the coxswain as crowds of passengers built up on both sides of the channel," she said.

Kenya Ferry Service Operation Manager Anthony Mwadzungu confirmed the hitch, but said the problem was fixed overnight.

"MV Kilindini is back in operation. The hitch lasted only 30 minutes. Its engine had switched off and engineers rectified the problem," he said.

Yesterday morning, MV Nyayo was withdrawn after making only one trip when it developed a mechanical problem. The vessel had been deployed to the channel late causing uproar among commuters.

Sources told The Standard yesterday that engineers were still fixing its control system. The sources said the ageing vessels can no longer cope with the number of passengers, which have grown from about 150,000 daily two years ago to more than 190,000.

huge traffic

"The number of people using ferries has become a major headache. All five ferries have to be deployed during peak hours in the morning and evenings to cope with the crowds," said a source.

When a hitch occurs at the Likoni Channel, the only ferry allocated to Mtongwe Channel is usually deployed to serve the huge traffic.

KFS operates MV Nyayo, MV Kilindini, MV Harambee, MV Pwani and MV Mvita.

Due to advanced age of the ferries, maintenance should be regular but growing crowds of passengers demand that the vessels operate most of the time.

The Government has ordered for two new ferries in Germany at a cost of Sh1 billion.

According to KFS Chairman Joseph Kingi, the new vessels could be delivered in December or January.

 

 

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