Worries as new ferries stall

• Marine experts still convinced that it’s only the proposed bypasses that will provide a permanent solution to the erratic ferry services

Recent cases of ferry scare at the crossing channel in Likoni have opened old wounds that commuters, motorists and others thought would have been buried with the arrival of two new ferries.

Commuters who had started basking in the new-found hope for stress-free crossing are worried that their joy might be short-lived.

A cross-section of members of the business community in the tourist haven of Diani are saying their expectations are slowly being dashed and are calling for a lasting solution that would also help spur development in the area.

Panic and pandemonium gripped commuters and motorists on Tuesday evening last week when one of the new ferries Mv Likoni got stuck on the main rump at the channel blocking other vessels from disembarking during the rush hour.

Another ferry Mv Kwale stalled midstream sending panic to commuters in a drama that lasted about two hours.

Diani businessman David Ndirangu said the new developments were worrying especially coming at a time when tour operators had been assured of smooth sailing across the channel unlike in the past when tourists had to wait for up to six hours to reach their local destinations.

“It’s especially disturbing when such mishaps and delays are being experienced during the start of the high tourist season,” said Mr Ndirangu who is in the hospitality industry.

Mombasa and Coast Tourist Association (MCTA) executive officer Millicent Odhiambo said the incidents being witnessed at the channel were not good for the industry that is struggling to recover from various shocks.

“South Coast is a gem in tourism and should be handled with a lot of care so that the tourists who visit the area are not treated to the same problems that we thought had been solved with the arrival of new vessels,” she said.

Marine experts and other players are still convinced that it’s only the proposed bypass at Dongo Kundu and the Likoni-Ukunda road near Ngombeni that will provide a permanent solution to the erratic ferry services connecting the North Coast and the South Coast, a marine expert has said.

Captain John Odhach said the government should invest on the bypass at Dongo Kundu since Likoni and Mtongwe channels cannot handle the growing population in the area.

Capt Odhach said increasing the fleet in the two channels was not solving any problem since their operations were regulated by marine laws.

“When ferry services were introduced in the country, Kenya had a population of approximately nine million and now we are tallying close to 40 million, yet the channel is not being expanded,” said the captain.

In an interview with the Nation, Capt Odhach said according to navigation rules, only three ferries were allowed to operate at a go to avoid accidents due to the turbulence of water caused by propellers of the vessels.

He said increasing the number of ferries was not a solution since rules did not allow three ferries to dock on the ramp at the same time.