Ministers stranded on lake as ferry fails
Jul 29, 2011
WORKS state minister Eng. John Byabagimbi and that for transport, Stephen Chebrot, were yesterday trapped on Lake Victoria for over two hours after a ferry they had gone to commission, stalled midway.
By Alex Balimwikungu
WORKS state minister Eng. John Byabagimbi and that for transport, Stephen Chebrot, were yesterday trapped on Lake Victoria for over two hours after a ferry they had gone to commission, stalled midway.
The new $2.5m (sh6.5b) 30-tonne MV Amani owned by Earth Wise Ferries Uganda, was taking the ministers, ministry officials and journalists on a sail from Port Bell to the Munyonyo Pier when the mishap happened.
A thick plume of smoke billowed from one of the ferry’s two engines, forcing it to anchor amid panic. As it turned out, one of the engines had sucked mud, causing it to heat up.
“An air cleaner sucked silt and dregs into one of the engines, clogging it in the process. We stalled the engine such that it cools down, before we could suck out the dregs. Cleaning takes up to six hours,†Henry Neuwot, one of the Earth Wise technicians, explained.
The ferry is propelled by two first-class caterpillar engines, worth $70,000 (sh183m) each.
A visibly angry Byabagambi said the problem was due to pollution and environmental degradation around Port Bell.
He called for the removal of dysfunctional ferries like MV Muvule, which has docked at the pier for ages.
“They are old and useless. They should be removed so that the area can be dredged for more functional ferry services,†he said.
Chebrot said the incident was an embarrassment to the Government and would serve as an eye-opener to the Government to improve ports.
The two ministers and other crew aboard the 150-seater MV Amani, were rescued by a Police marine unit speedboat that took them back to Port Bell.
The passenger ferry that will link Uganda to Kenya and Tanzania is due to start operations next month.
Previously, it had successful test cruises to Ssese Islands.
Built in the US and re-assembled at Garuga on the shores of L. Victoria, the ferry will operate between Port Bell, Kisumu, Mwanza and Ssese Islands.
The ferry will transport about 1,600 people daily.
WORKS state minister Eng. John Byabagimbi and that for transport, Stephen Chebrot, were yesterday trapped on Lake Victoria for over two hours after a ferry they had gone to commission, stalled midway.
The new $2.5m (sh6.5b) 30-tonne MV Amani owned by Earth Wise Ferries Uganda, was taking the ministers, ministry officials and journalists on a sail from Port Bell to the Munyonyo Pier when the mishap happened.
A thick plume of smoke billowed from one of the ferry’s two engines, forcing it to anchor amid panic. As it turned out, one of the engines had sucked mud, causing it to heat up.
“An air cleaner sucked silt and dregs into one of the engines, clogging it in the process. We stalled the engine such that it cools down, before we could suck out the dregs. Cleaning takes up to six hours,†Henry Neuwot, one of the Earth Wise technicians, explained.
The ferry is propelled by two first-class caterpillar engines, worth $70,000 (sh183m) each.
A visibly angry Byabagambi said the problem was due to pollution and environmental degradation around Port Bell.
He called for the removal of dysfunctional ferries like MV Muvule, which has docked at the pier for ages.
“They are old and useless. They should be removed so that the area can be dredged for more functional ferry services,†he said.
Chebrot said the incident was an embarrassment to the Government and would serve as an eye-opener to the Government to improve ports.
The two ministers and other crew aboard the 150-seater MV Amani, were rescued by a Police marine unit speedboat that took them back to Port Bell.
The passenger ferry that will link Uganda to Kenya and Tanzania is due to start operations next month.
Previously, it had successful test cruises to Ssese Islands.
Built in the US and re-assembled at Garuga on the shores of L. Victoria, the ferry will operate between Port Bell, Kisumu, Mwanza and Ssese Islands.
The ferry will transport about 1,600 people daily.