Outrage over ferry breakdowns as Kenya Ferry Services asks for more funding

Hundreds of commutters from Likoni on board the MV Likoni ferry arrive at the Mombasa island ramp in Mombasa County on Thursday,012th November,2015. There was a big crisis as Commutters and Motorists on both sides of Mombasa and Likoni were stranded for the better part of the day when MV harambee went aground after hitting the Mombasa ramp. [PHOTO BY MAARUFU MOHAMED/STANDARD]

The frequent ferry breakdowns at the Likoni channel have been attributed to management shortcomings at the Kenya Ferry Services.

Following injuries sustained by scores of stampeding passengers when a ferry stalled on October 26, residents and some leaders have renewed calls for a change of guard at the parastatal.

At the time only two ferries, Mv Likoni and Mv Nyayo, were in operation during the morning rush hour instead of the usual four. Mv Kwale had stalled on the island ramp during low tide, while Mv Harambee was being repaired after developing mechanical problems. The fifth vessel, Mv Kilindini, has been undergoing mandatory structural dry dock maintenance since September at the African Marine and General Engineering Company shipyard in Likoni. The repair works are expected to be completed in the next three weeks.

Mombasa County Commissioner Nelson Marwa, Deputy Governor Hazel Katana and General Secretary of the Dock Workers Union (DWU) Simon Sang have attributed the hitches to poor management. Marwa says KFS has enough ferries but  its managers are unconcerned about the interests of  its workers, and often ignore the plight of tourists and schoolchildren  when there are delays at the channel crossing.

Troubled channel

“Kenya ferry has enough ferries but the problem is in poor management. The top managers should be sacked immediately,” Marwa sensationally declared when he visited the troubled channel flanked by Ms Katana. The deputy governor then called for investigations to establish whether there was sabotage in the provisions of the essential service that serves as the only link to the south coast and Tanzania by road from Mombasa.

But even as demands for reforms continued, it has  emerged  that the ferry firm is being underfunded by the government.   Its fleet of ferries are too old and, therefore, costly to maintain.

KFS has been facing a shortage of vessels since 2012 when Mv Pwani and Mv Mvita were withdrawn from operation because they were too old. Mv Mvita was commissioned in 1969 while Mv Pwani, formerly Mv Safina, started operations in 1975.

The acquisition of new ferries has been held back by delays in the approval the design work. A Turkish firm has been commissioned to build the vessels.

Plans by the KFS to launch commercial cruises jointly with a private partner have also stalled even after approval of the project by the national government.  The Mombasa County government has asked to be incorporated in the project resulting in the delay.

It is anticipated that a commercial cruise venture  will ease pressure at the Likoni channel as those able to pay for services would get an alternative method to cross the channel.

Speaking after last month’s stampede, Transport PS John Mosonik explained that inadequate funding  had contributed to the quality of the vessels.  The PS said KFS had asked for Sh3.7 billion to cater for its operational costs in the 2015/2016 financial year but was given Sh2.2 billion. So far, only Sh84 million has been released  to run and  maintain the five vessels.

“The ferry operator has to make do with overage equipment. Three of the ferries in operation — Nyayo, Kilindini and Harambee — were procured in 1990, while the remaining two —Kwale and Likoni— are five years old,” explained Dr Mosonik. The newest ferries are Mv Kwale and Mv Likoni which were delivered in 2010. They were procured at a cost of Sh1.3 billion.

Limited funding

KFS Managing Director Musa Hassan Musa says as long as they are unable to meet the cost of getting good maintenance service, the problems will persist.

“The ferries have been operating daily in salty water for the last 25 years. We depend on government funds, which are limited,” Musa said.

It is expected that once the final design of two ferries is approved, the quality of service will improve. Turkish shipyard company Ozata Tersanececik Ltd  was awarded a  Sh2 billion to complete the project.

Once the final approval of design is done, the two ferries, each with a capacity of 1,800 passengers and 60 cars,   will be built simultaneously and delivered within 10 months.

Musa says the new ferries will be coastal-going, which means they can sail in the high seas and are able to deliver passengers to Mtwapa in Kilifi county or Diani in Kwale county.

“The new ferries will be larger  and  more versatile because they can sail into the high seas. Unlike Mv Nyayo, with a deck height of 3.2 metres, the new vessels will have a height of 3.7 metres. These vessels will be more friendly to people with disability,” Musa explained.

The current fleet of five have a  capacity of 1,500 passengers and 60 vehicles.

Three months ago, about 1,500 passengers on Mv Kwale were thrown into a state of panic when the vessel drifted for about one kilometre.

Despite these problems, the plan to introduce commercial cruise   have been put on hold until negotiations between national and county governments are concluded. The commercial ferry service is expected to de-congest the Likoni ferry channel and roads in Mombasa as the vessel are expected to transport passengers up to Mtwapa and Diani.

“The concept of introducing commercial ferry services has been approved by the national government as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) venture. The county government has an interest in the project and talks are ongoing to agree on the way forward,” Musa explained.

Reduced jams

The use of cable cars across the Likono ferry through a partnership  with a private investor a private investor is being considered.

Musa says the   project will cost Sh3.6 billion. a venture like this would reduce vehicular traffic and at the same time boost tourism in the south coast by providing a complementary pedestrian crossing for the Likoni channel.

“With a capacity of 11,000 commuters per hour in both directions, tourists to and from South Coast will no longer be delayed. The infrastructure is also a tourist attraction in itself and offers panoramic views of the entire Mombasa region,” said Mr Musa.

KFS handles more than 300,000 passengers and more than 6,000 vehicles crossing the Likoni channel between the island and the South Coast mainland everyday.

In 2014, the company  transported about 108 million passengers and close to two million motorists from the island to and from the mainland.

KFS was established in 1989 to run the ferries that link     the island to the mainland. Unlike the northern side of Mombasa that is linked by bridges at Nyali, Mtwapa Kilifi and Sabaki, the south coast depends entirely on ferries.  Pedestrians do not pay for the service   while motorists pay a modest fee.

Stakeholders want the issues to be addressed now. The Executive Officer of the Mombasa and Coast Tourist Association (MCTA), Ms Millicent Odhiambo, says efficient  traffic control can help ease congestion.

“KFS should improve the ferry maintenance schedules while government agencies should work together to control the flow of traffic in and out of ferries. Vehicles carrying tourists to the airport are given special clearance to board ferries but are delayed by matatus, tuk tuks and trucks which block roads around the ferry area,” Odhiambo said .

Mr Sang, who represents 180 KFS workers and 4,000 Kenya Ports Authority employees in the union, suggests that KFS should diversify its services to raise revenue and wants   performance contracts to be introduced at the KFS.

 “KFS should utilise the free services of Kenya Ports Authority Marine Services in order to cut maintenance cost instead of relying on private companies. Staff issues, which appear to be the cause of strained industrial relations, should be resolved immediately as this has contributed to frequent stand-offs,” Sang noted.