KFS to receive Sh1 billion ferry next year

A ferry crossing from Likoni mainland to Mombasa ramp. KFS has resolved hurdles that held up the delivery of a Sh1 billion ferry [Maarufu Mohamed, Standard]

Likoni ferry users are set to finally get a major relief after Kenya Ferry Services (KFS) resolved hurdles that held up the delivery of a Sh1 billion ferry.

KFS management on Thursday said the builder Ozata shipyard of Turk would deliver Mv Safari at the Likoni channel by mid-January next year.

This was after the shipbuilder accepted to be paid USD484,000 (about Sh49 million) following a dispute over delays occasioned by a court case between KFS and marine survey firm- Bonriz Insurance Marine Surveyors.

KFS and Ozata had been in talks for months after the latter slapped the state firm with a Sh300 million bill following the delays after the high court stopped the construction of the vessel for nearly a year.

The shipyard has already constructed the ferry but will have to import the Volvo engine system from Sweden and the steering system from Germany and install it in the next three months.

KFS managing director Bakari Gowa confirmed yesterday that the new ferry would be delivered in January after the issue of addition pay to the shipyard was resolved recently.

“We have come to an agreement with the shipyard and we expect the ferry to be delivered by mid-January next year,” Gowa confirmed.

He said apart from the acquisition and installation of the machinery on the vessel, it will undergo sea trial for one and half month and take a similar time to transport the vessel to Kenya.

Mr Gowa said the delivery of the new ferry will stabilize operations at both Likoni and Mtongwe channels as it will free other vessels to undergo maintenance without causing much pressure to transport people across.

Ferries at the Likoni channel handle more than 300000 passengers and 6000 vehicles daily while the Mtongwe services commissioned by President Uhuru Kenyatta more than two years ago handle about 15000 passengers.

The Government which runs KFS contracted Ozata shipyard to build Mv Jambo and Mv Safari at a cost of Sh2 billion.

Mv Jambo was delivered way back in 2017 but construction and delivery of Mv Safari was delayed after Bonriz Marine Insurance Surveyors went to the high court claiming its construction had failed to meet standards contained in the contract.

Bonriz went to court after KFS cancelled its contract for consultancy on project supervision on June 30, 2017.