Friends,
two reported incidents got me to this comment on infrastructure.

Gambia is divided into north- and south-banks by the river Gambia. Therefor
the people need to cross the river to obtain maximum contact. Until now the
country has not build bridges crossing and has to rely on the few ferries.
It´s very important that the ferries are maintained to the highest standard.
So they can run frequently and with the minimum risk for passengers
But it´s also important that the highest standard of rescue-systems are kept
in order and the staff is trained to handle every situation.
I wonder why they did not use an anchor, when the ferry started to drift ?
And I do hope that there are life-boats, life-belts and all such equipment
available. 
Asbjørn Nordam

>Kerewan ferry fails mid-river
>The engine of the Kerewan ferry, Sunday, July 16 failed in the middle of the
>river while it was transporting hundreds of passengers and goods to Kerewan.
>The ferry was left to the mercy of the winds  westwards towards Miniminiyang
>bolong bridge, under construction, and passengers, mainly women, screamed and
>yelled out to God to save them.
>However, the ferry got stuck in the mud and mangroves near the bridge from
>where small boats were used to evacuate the passengers to the Kerewan bank of
>the river.
>The captain of the ferry, after the successful rescue operation, told me that
>the engine of his ferry has been faulty for four days before Sunday. He said
>the matter was reported to the authorities in charge.
>The ferry engineer, Abdoulie Jawara, said a faulty rig and other parts fitted
>to the propeller, caused the engine failure.
>CSE contractors at the Miniminiyang bolong bridge also helped in the rescue
>efforts.

>Lorry falls into river
>A Senegalese lorry laden with mango fruits fell into the river near
>Soma-Farafenni ferry crossing.
>The lorry was said to have accidentally disembarked from the rear of the ferry
>at the Farafenni terminus.
>Eye witness said the authorities at the terminus had initially refused the
>lorry from being ferried across the river because the old ferry was already
>loaded.
>However, they later yielded and put the lorry on the ferry. The ferry sailed to
>the other end of the crossing and as the vehicles and passengers were
>disembarking, the heavy lorry rolled down the ferry's rear vehicle
>disembarkment platform and fell into the river.
>The lorry has been salvaged but the driver has been confirmed dead.
>The ferry services at the crossing have since resumed but the incident is seen
>by many as a dangerous signal to the Gambian and Senegalese passengers and
>drivers using the crossing.
>In recent time, overloading, frequent breakdowns of the vessels and long queues
>of passengers and vehicles have been the order of the day at this important
>crossing.
>"I hope the GPTC and the transport ministry would intervene very urgently to
>save the worsening human and vehicle traffic at this important crossing of the
>Trans-Senegambian highway," a passenger said.

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