News of Monday 10th June 2002
New ferry for Banjul-Barra river crossing
THE government will not stop at providing regular and reliable ferry services, but intends to have in place a round-the-clock service between Banjul and Barra within one year at the latest.
There are more ferries, much bigger than this one, on the way, President Yahya Jammeh announced at Banjul port on Friday, when he commissioned JOHE, a new ferry for the Banjul-Barra river crossing.
The four-engine ferry takes 20 minutes to cross the Banjul-Barra channel, and can take as many as 600 passengers and vehicle loads of up to 10.5 tonnes.
Called "Johe", which is the pre-colonial name of James Island, the new ferry was built by Damen shipyard in Holland for 6.5 million Dutch Guilders.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, President Yahya Jammeh said the government will not stop at providing regular and reliable ferry services, but intends to provide a 24-hours ferry service between Banjul and Barra within one year at the most.
There are more ferries, much bigger than this one, on the way, the President announced, and advised ferry service workers to ensure regular maintenance of the new ferry, and to be dedicated to their duties.
Ukranian ferry
Adama Deen managing director of the Gambia Ports Authority, which oversees the ferry services, said one main objective of the GPA is investing in ferries to meet the demand for ferry services at the Banjul-Barra crossing.
He said their are plans to acquire in the near future much bigger capacity ferries from Ukraine which are currently being built, and expected to be delivered in 15 months time.
The GPA management is also committed to modernising the infrastructure facilities of the ferry services.
He said commencing this financial year, the GPA will finance from its own resources rehabilitation and construction work to the tune of D7 million. GPA's present activities include the rehabilitation of the Banjul and Barra ferry terminals and access roads; the surveying and design of a new passenger terminal for Banjul; construction of the Soma-Yelli Tenda road; rehabilitation of Yelli Tenda and Bamba Tenda ferry terminals; and the rehabilitation of the Barajally ferry.
Despite the high operational costs and debt service obligations of the ferry services, the prospects for a profitable ferry service in in the not too distant future are bright, Deen reported, and further announced that there has been an immense improvement in the revenue from the ferries generated by the GPA in the last six months.
Unprecedented revenue
For the first time, GPA's monthly revenue from the ferry services has reached the four million mark as at 31st May 2002, GPA's MD revealed, and commended his staff for "a job-well-done."
He emphasised that improvement of the revenue will be further enhanced with the addition of Johe.
Deen announced that the new ferry will commence operating daily, with departures from Banjul at 7 a.m. and the last ferry from Barra will now be at 11 p.m. This schedule will be introduced as soon as the ferry called Barra is rehabilitated and other logistics worked out.
Local financing
The Secretary of State for Works and Infrastructural Development, Edward Singhatey, said the acquisition of Johe demonstrates the government's drive and commitment to develop the transport sector, especially river transport.
The project began 15 months ago, Singhatey revealed, and that the financing of Johe is to a large extent a local initiative. He commended Damen shipyard for their co-operation in providing the new ferry within the agreed timeframe of 10 months.
A representative the Dutch shipyard, Koen Justra, noted that handing over the new ferry is not the end, since under the project their engineers will be stationed in Banjul for the next six months in order to train ferry service personnel and assist with the running and maintenance of Johe.
The President after commissioning the ferry was accompanied by members of his cabinet and other dignitaries, including diplomats, on a return trip from Banjul to Barra.