Crucial Tourist Link
Kenya asks where are the new ferries?
Anger is spreading among commuters, the business community, and the tourism trade over the unexplained delay of delivering the new ferries for the Likoni channel crossing, which presently connects the island of Mombasa with the southern mainland, a crucial link for tourists and the local community alike.
Initially, the ferries were to be delivered last year. but constant delays were experienced and procurement payment issues in Kenya were also not helpful towards a timely delivery.
It is now understood that it may take several more weeks before the ferries may arrive in Mombasa, but no word was received as to the shipping route, which may add more dangers to the timely delivery should the route go through waters infested with Somali ocean terrorists, as it would more than likely need a navy escort all the way from the Red Sea to the port of Mombasa.
Interestingly enough, no one has yet used the Icelandic ash cloud as a reason for explaining the fresh delays.
Comments
I like to inform you that definitely the two new ferries "Made in Germany" are now on the way to Mombasa. They had been loaded onboard the heavy lift carrier "BELUGA SINGAPORE" at Hamburg on the 8th of May at the "Dradenau Terminal". The "BELUGA SINGAPORE" with "KWALE" and "LIKONI" onboard then left Hamburg on Thursday, the 13th of May, 2010, with destination Mombasa.
Actually the vessels position is north of the Algerian coast in the Mediterranean Sea. The estimated time of arrival at Port Said is the 23rd of Mai, 2010. The Vessel with her precious freight has to pass the suez canal and the pirate area at the horn of Africa. Nevertheless I am wishing a very very good arrival of Crew and ferries and their carrier at Mombasa.
For your further information please note:
The ferries "KWALE" and "LIKONI" had been build in Dresden at the upper part of the river Elbe (about 1.000 Kilometers long), more than fivehundred Kilometers far away from the seaport Hamburg and the Elbe estuary. We had this year a very hard winter and plenty of ice blocked the river Elbe. This is one reason for delay of loading the ferries at Hamburg for destination Mombasa.
Further it is absolutely necessary, that the crew has to be qualified for perfectly manoevering the new "high-tech"-ferries "Made in Germany". Enclosed you may find some pictures from the "seatrials" of the ferries at Hamburg.
Hope this may assist.
Yours faithfully
Peter Hartung from Nidda (Germany)
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