Ferry services suffer after tar in ocean stops vessels

Ferry services at the Likoni Crossing Channel have been paralyzed following the withdrawal of four ferries.

Kenya Ferry Services in its official statement issued yesterday said the paralysis had been caused by tar that had entangled the propeller of the vessels making it hard to navigate the vessels in the Indian Ocean waters.

“The tar in the Indian Ocean was caused by emissions from a ship that has docked at the Mbaraki Wharf.

Kenya Ferry Services had to engage divers to remove the tar, the exercise is still ongoing,” the statement read in part.

The withdrawal interfered with the ferry operations and transport services were affected with a major snarl up being witnessed for the third day.

Pedestrians at the busy channel were forced to use the Liwatoni floating bridge.

KFS officials spent hours at the Likoni crossing channel directing motorists and pedestrians to use the floating bridge.

The Liwatoni footbridge was commissioned on January 1, 2020 but pedestrians have always preferred using the Likoni Channel.

The government constructed the bridge at a cost of Sh1.9 million last year to reduce crowding at Likoni Channel amid fears of corona virus spread.

The Likoni Channel is used by about 350,000 passengers and 6,000 vehicles daily, leading to heavy congestion, particularly during peak hours in the morning and evening.