(this is another "Africa" story....so I've borrowed this existing thread)
===========================
www.nationmedia.com:80/eastafrican/current/Business/biz1607072.htmThis is a news story on the Kenya Ferry Service, and it's need to renovate 2 existing ferries, while it waits for the delivery of 2 newbuilds from Germany (not FSG...).
It's interesting to read of the challenges of a ferry company on another Continent.
==================================
(in case the link dies in a few weeks, here the story cut/pasted)
$0.59m to rehabilitate ferries
By ABDULSAMAD ALI
Special Correspondent
The Kenya Ferry Services is spending Sh40 million ($597,000) to rehabilitate two old ferries — deemed technically unfit for operation — to meet the ever-increasing demand from passengers and vehicles.
The first, mv Mvita, is docked at the Southern Engineering Company (Seco) for major rehabilitation. The other, mv Pwani, will be docked once Mvita is complete. The two vessels’ lifespan — commissioned in 1969 and 1975 respectively — had been estimated at 15 years each. However, due to the heavy maintenance they undergo, they are still in operation.
Managing director John Ria said the firm decided to carry out the major rehabilitation to sustain services at both the Likoni and Mtongwe channels as the KFS waits for two new ferries that have already been ordered and are expected in the country by the end of next year.
“The rehabilitation is part of trying to maintain our services and ensure that there are very few, if any, interruptions at the two channels,” said Mr Ria.
Recently, KFS signed a contract for the supply of two ferries after two years of court battles over a disputed tender. Germany’s Schiffbau Company won the contract in mid 2004 but court battles stopped the process. In the initial plan, the vessels would have been received by March this year. Mr Ria said they expected by August 2008.
KFS operates three other ferries mv Nyayo, mv Kilindini and mv Harambee, all commissioned in 1990. The fourth, mv Mtongwe, capsized in 1994 in the country’s worst ferry accident, killing 257 passengers.
He said the ferry services provider was keen to rehabilitate the two ferries so that when new ones arrive, they can be used for leisure activities, including weddings, birthdays and parties.
We are offering these services but on a lower scale because we cannot meet any large orders. We have to satisfy the passengers and vehicles first before we can think of venturing into any large scale commercial leisure activities,” Mr Ria said.
Currently, the ferries serve 160,000 passengers and over 3,000 vehicles daily. Statistics from KFS show that the five ferries cater for 54 million passengers and 1.1 million vehicles a year, up from 41.2 million passengers and 890,000 vehicles in 2001. KFS expects 74.5 million passengers and 1.38 million vehicles to use the ferries by 2010.
In order to boost the capacity of the existing ferries the KFS has tried to boost the passenger-carrying capacity of mv Kilindini and mv Harambee from 800 to 1,440 passengers by converting the two ferries from single to double deck.
Mv Nyayo has a capacity of 1,200 passengers and 60 cars, Harambee and Kilindini each carry 1,440 passengers and 40 cars, Pwani 1,200 passengers and 50 cars while Mvita carries 900 passengers.
KFS operates mv Mvita for passenger-only service in the Mtongwe channel. It is the oldest and most expensive to maintain having been in service since 1969.
Mr Ria says the Mtongwe channel has scheduled times that are unrealistic and punishing for passengers. “We have approximately two trips a day, which does not cater for every passenger. They have to be near the ramp in time and due to its size, the ferry cannot carry everyone,” he said
There have also been persistent cases of ferries stalling midstream in the channel, raising fears of imminent disaster, with maritime experts warning of a possible collision with ships.
================
