Mango Tree Group invests sh18.6b in MV Pamba

Jun 21, 2020

Joy Kabatsi the state minister for transport during the recent handover of the vessel to the investor at Port Bell Pier, she said the estimated $5m repair works on the vessel will last for only four months.

Mango Tree Group invests sh18.6b in MV Pamba

By Samuel Balagadde and Charles Mutebi
Journalists @New Vision

KAMPALA - Following the recent handover of the Marine Vessel (MV) Pamba Wagon Ferry to Mango Tree Group Ltd, repairs and operation works have commenced 

Under the memorandum of understanding, Mango Tree Group Ltd is to repair this vessel to international Maritime Organization (IOM) seaworthiness requirements, meet the insurance costs using their own money later operate it for a given period to recoup the investment before transferring it back to the government.

Joy Kabatsi the state minister for transport during the recent handover of the vessel to the investor at Port Bell Pier, she said the estimated $5m repair works on the vessel will last for only four months.

Second on the right: Joy Kabatsi and Eng. Charles Kateeba the managing director for Uganda Railways Corporation on her right and other officials during the inspection of MV Pamba (Photo by Samuel Balagadde)

Second on the right: Joy Kabatsi and Eng. Charles Kateeba the managing director for Uganda Railways Corporation on her right and other officials during the inspection of MV Pamba (Photo by Samuel Balagadde)

 

She said; "the vessel has been grounded for the last fifteen years due to lack of funds yet the country is in great need of shifting cargo from roads to water and rail"

"The repairs and operations of the vessel will be closely monitored by the ministry technical team," said Kabatsi.

Fan Shuchun the chairman for Mango Tree Group said he is optimistic that they will be in position to accomplish the repair works for the vessel within the agreed period.

The ongoing refurbishment of MV Pamba at Port Bell pier. (Photo by Samuel Balagadde)

The ongoing refurbishment of MV Pamba at Port Bell pier. (Photo by Samuel Balagadde)

 

On completion of the repairs, MV Pamba will join MV Kawa which was repaired in 2012 with support from World Bank. In 2005, MV Kawa collided with MV Kabalega that eventually submerged.

MV Kawa is operational though currently under mandatory survey and repairs at Port Bell pier.

Minister Kabatsi wants all grounded vessels at Port Bell pier brought back to life while those not repairable be removed from the port.

Both vessels will be plying Mwanza Port -Port Bell route for goods from Dar-es-Salaam Port and Kisumu-Port Bell for fuel and other goods.

The ongoing refurbishment of MV Pamba at Port Bell pier. (Photo by Samuel Balagadde)

The ongoing refurbishment of MV Pamba at Port Bell pier. (Photo by Samuel Balagadde)

 

Both routes faced a severe setback when the government conceded Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) assets to the suspended Rift Valley Railways (RVR) in 2006 for 25 years which did not perform to the expectation leading to termination of the concession prematurely a few years back.

"The government wants to relieve the road transport mainly of goods from Port of Mombasa in Kenya by use of water and railway transport services," said Kabatsi.

Specifications of the vessel:

MV Pamba was designed with a deadweight of 1,500 tones and a loading capacity of cargo of 800 tones means that it can load cargo for 22 merchandise trucks for the maximum allowable gross weight of 56 tons on Ugandan roads or 22 fuel wagons.

On completion of the repairs, MV Pamba will join MV Kawa which was repaired in 2012. (Photo by Samuel Balagadde)

On completion of the repairs, MV Pamba will join MV Kawa which was repaired in 2012. (Photo by Samuel Balagadde)

 

The vessel is 91 meters long and propelled by two main engines that run concurrently, with two generators for electricity for its power supply with 120,000 fuels reserve tanks (Bankers) than can run it for about one month.

It has the same specifications and loading capacities like MV Kabalega and MV Kawa that were ordered from Belgium by the late president Idi Amin. They were brought into the country in parts and assembled at Port Bell pier

MV Kawa was the first to be assembled in 1983 with the dry dock. It was later grounded in 2005 for lack of seaworthiness requirements after the collision with MV Kabalega.

In 2009, the World Bank-financed the refurbishment of MV Kawa with the dry dock at a cost of $3.2m by the Southern Engineering Company from Mombasa Kenya later handed over to the suspended RVR to commence operation but was not operated to full capacity.

It was designed with a deadweight of 1,500 tones and a loading capacity of cargo of 800 tones. (Photo by Samuel Balagadde)

It was designed with a deadweight of 1,500 tones and a loading capacity of cargo of 800 tones. (Photo by Samuel Balagadde)

 

Eng. Charles Kateeba URC managing director said both Port Bell -Mwanza and Port- Kisumu routes are fully operational and more business negotiations for general goods transportation are ongoing.

"Wednesday marked the fourth consignment of fuel wagons from the Kenyan national wagon ferry MV Uhuru with each containing 22 wagons with a total of 1m litres of fuel," said Kateeba.

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