The Mtongwe ferry pontoon that was destroyed by heavy currents. [Photo/ the-star.co.ke]
Two pillars supporting a pontoon at the Mtongwe ferry are reported to have been swept away by heavy tides in the Indian Ocean, disrupting operations at the channel.Confirming the incident, Kenya Ferry Services MD Bakari Gowa said the pontoon submerged after the pillars were carried away by heavy waves at around midnight.Gowa said the channel will still be operational as the landing side will be rerouted to the Likoni channel.“At the moment, operations at the mainland will proceed, but the Bandari side will remain closed for a few days,” said Gowa, as quoted by The Star.“We know it will inconvenience residents, but we’ll be ferrying people from the Mtongwe channel across to the Likoni channel,” he added.
The collapsed pontoon. [Photo/ kenya-today.com]
He further said that a team of engineers from the Ministry of Transport had been sent to access the damage as well as assist in rebuilding the pontoon.The MD revealed KFS had set aside Sh120 million for the construction of ramps at the channel in a bid to provide a permanent solution to the docking problem.
He, however, said they lack enough land to build the ramps, adding that they will purchase the required piece of land from willing sellers.
“We have Sh120 million for building ramps. If we get enough land, it will only take four months to have them operational,” Gowa said.
No one was injured during the incident as the channel operates between 5am and 10pm.
The channel was relaunched in March by President Uhuru Kenyatta, five years after services were suspended.