Zanzibar deregisters 3 boats, suspends one

Zanzibar has deregistered three vessels and suspended one in a bid to tighten screws on the legislation and operation of marine transport 10 days after a fatal boat accident killed at least 116 people.

 The Acting Director for Zanzibar Maritime Transport Authority- Mr Abdallah Hussein Kombo , while addressing a press conference in the Isles said, “Mv Seagull, Mv Kalama, and Mv Sepideh have been de-registered and are not allowed to operate in Zanzibar territory, while Mv Kilimajaro III has been temporarily stopped due to expiry of life raft.”
 He said that his office is now working closely with Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Authority (SUMATRA) from Tanzania Mainland to inspect all vessels in Zanzibar so that only seaworthy ferries are allowed to operate.
 “Kilimanjaro III will resume services after improving its sea survival facilities,” he added.

 He said that Mv Seagull and Mv Kalama sister to the fatal Mv Skagit, and Mv Sepideh have been deleted from the list of Zanzibar sea vessels “because the boats are dilapidated and have had frequent breakdowns.”

 Kombo informed journalists that Mv Seregenti, which has also had repeatedly experienced mechanical faults in the sea, is still under investigation and that under the period of scrutiny the boat is “allowed to carry 350 passengers and 50 tonnes of cargo less its capacity of 800 passengers and 100 tonnes respectively.”

 He said that Azam Marine Transport Company is expected to import a big ship from Greece next month; the move is expected to ease transportation between Unguja (Zanzibar and Pemba currently facing sea transport problems.