Mv Magogoni, new Magogoni ferry to resume services mid-August - PS

MAUREEN ODUNGA

THE Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communications (Works), Engineer Joseph Nyamhanga, has said that Mv Magogoni ferry services are set to resume mid this month, noting that construction of the eew Magogoni ferry will be completed by October.

Eng Nyamhanga made the revelation when he visited the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) dockyard and inspected implementation of the maintenance of Mv Magogoni and construction of the New Magogoni and Mv Tanga ferries.

“The contractor has completed repairs by 90 per cent as they are waiting for electrical equipment to arrive from abroad for installation,” said Eng Nyamhanga. He pointed out that construction of the Pangani ferry (Mv Tanga) has been completed and the part that now remained was sea trials and certification by the Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Authority (SUMATRA).

“Previously, the country used to procure and do repairs of the ferries abroad but due to advancement of technology, all the engineering work is being done by a local company known as Songoro Marine Transport Yard Limited of Mwanza,” noted the PS.

The Acting Chief Executive of the Tanzania Electrical, Mechanical and Electronics Services Agency (TEMESA), Eng Manase Ole-Kujan, pointed out that the move aimed at improving ferry boat services in the country.

“The maintenance of Mv Magogoni, which has cost over 1.1bn/-. Upon completion, will ease congestion because the ferry has the capacity of carrying 2,000 passengers and 60 vehicles,” said Eng Ole-Kujan.

The new Magogoni ferry will have the capacity to carry 170 tons, 100 passengers and 22 small vehicles. Its construction, in the initial stages, is being executed by a local contractor at a cost of 6.2bn/-.

Construction of the Pangani ferry amounts to over 4bn/-. It will have the capacity to carry 50 tons and 100 passengers. “The main engine overhaul and installation of generators will be carried out by TEMESA,” he said.

The Director of Songoro Marine Transport Yard Limited, Mr Saleh Songoro, extended recognition to the government for entrusting them with the execution of the project, calling upon local steel companies to harvest the original metal instead of relying on scraps for production. “Construction of large vessels such as ships, boats and others require quality metals,” he said.