By Staff Reporter, MWANZA
President John Magufuli has today (Sunday) laid down a stone to commence the construction of the new and biggest passenger vessel in the Great Lakes with a capacity to carry 1200 passengers, 400 tonnes of cargo and 23 cars, 23 years after it was promised by previous governments.
The ferry that has been christened as “MV MWANZA- HAPA KAZI TU” and constructed at the rate of $ 39 million (89.7 billion) was promised to be built in 1996 unsuccessfully by previous governments after MV Bukoba capsized in Lake Victoria Waters.
Speaking at the launch, President Magufuli asked, “Why was it impossible for previous governments to fulfil the 1996 promise which to a great extent affected the economy and well being of passengers in the Lake Region? Why the current government has managed to fulfil this promise?"
President Magufuli mentioned corruption and lack of willingness as two factors that made previous governments not to construct the new ship to serve people in the lake region as well making the economy grow in the area.
Chief Executive of the Tanzanian state-run shipping line, Marine Services Company (MSCL), Eric Hamissi said when completed, the 90-metre vessel is expected to link ports in Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya.
“Before 2025, we have plans for an extended spectrum of operations that will include introducing cargo ship services for ocean routes, particularly to the Comoros Islands. We are closer to those islands than Mombasa and Durban,” Mr Hamissi added.
Earlier, speaking before welcoming the President to address the gathering, Isack Kamwele, the Minister for Works, Transport and Communication, said the completion of three vessels in the area will reduce the high costs of cement bags that are sold expensively in Mara, Mwanza and Kagera regions.
Mr. Kamwele said the government has completed repairing Kemondo and Bukoba ports which have rails to allow MV Umoja to transport cement bags to these areas in order to reduce high costs of the products.
He, moreover, said the completion of Dar es Salaam – Mwanza rail will see 5 million tonnes of cement bags dished in the lake region. This, according to the Minister will reduce the high costs of cement bags.
Last year in September, the Marine Services Company, signed separate contracts with three South Korean firms to revamp shipping services on Lake Victoria under a Tsh152 billion ($66 million) project co-funded by the Tanzanian government.
Under the deal, GAS Entec teamed up with the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces National Service economic wing, Suma JKT, to build the ferry and commission it within two years.
The other contracts involve the rehabilitation of two old boats- MV Victoria and MV Butiama at a combined cost of Tsh27.5 billion ($12 million), and construction of a 100-metre slipway at Tsh35.9 billion ($15.6 million).
The former is undertaken by KTMI and Yuko’s Enterprises (EA) Co Ltd, while the slipway is done by Korean firms STX Engine Co and Saekyung Construction Company.
Work on the two old ships involves replacing the engines. The parts for the ship were built in Korea and transported to Mwanza, where the ferry is assembled. Moreover, the South Korean firm GAS Entec contracted Spanish engineering and technology group Sener to design a 1,200-passenger ferry which is has been constructed by 50%
The new ferry has been completed for 50 percent, MV Victoria 65 percent, MV Butiama 60 percent and the slipway 68 percent. In total once completed all the ships will ferry 2600 and 700 tonnes of cargo respectively at once.
President John Magufuli has today (Sunday) laid down a stone to commence the construction of the new and biggest passenger vessel in the Great Lakes with a capacity to carry 1200 passengers, 400 tonnes of cargo and 23 cars, 23 years after it was promised by previous governments.
The ferry that has been christened as “MV MWANZA- HAPA KAZI TU” and constructed at the rate of $ 39 million (89.7 billion) was promised to be built in 1996 unsuccessfully by previous governments after MV Bukoba capsized in Lake Victoria Waters.
Speaking at the launch, President Magufuli asked, “Why was it impossible for previous governments to fulfil the 1996 promise which to a great extent affected the economy and well being of passengers in the Lake Region? Why the current government has managed to fulfil this promise?"
President Magufuli mentioned corruption and lack of willingness as two factors that made previous governments not to construct the new ship to serve people in the lake region as well making the economy grow in the area.
Chief Executive of the Tanzanian state-run shipping line, Marine Services Company (MSCL), Eric Hamissi said when completed, the 90-metre vessel is expected to link ports in Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya.
“Before 2025, we have plans for an extended spectrum of operations that will include introducing cargo ship services for ocean routes, particularly to the Comoros Islands. We are closer to those islands than Mombasa and Durban,” Mr Hamissi added.
Earlier, speaking before welcoming the President to address the gathering, Isack Kamwele, the Minister for Works, Transport and Communication, said the completion of three vessels in the area will reduce the high costs of cement bags that are sold expensively in Mara, Mwanza and Kagera regions.
Mr. Kamwele said the government has completed repairing Kemondo and Bukoba ports which have rails to allow MV Umoja to transport cement bags to these areas in order to reduce high costs of the products.
He, moreover, said the completion of Dar es Salaam – Mwanza rail will see 5 million tonnes of cement bags dished in the lake region. This, according to the Minister will reduce the high costs of cement bags.
Last year in September, the Marine Services Company, signed separate contracts with three South Korean firms to revamp shipping services on Lake Victoria under a Tsh152 billion ($66 million) project co-funded by the Tanzanian government.
Under the deal, GAS Entec teamed up with the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces National Service economic wing, Suma JKT, to build the ferry and commission it within two years.
The other contracts involve the rehabilitation of two old boats- MV Victoria and MV Butiama at a combined cost of Tsh27.5 billion ($12 million), and construction of a 100-metre slipway at Tsh35.9 billion ($15.6 million).
The former is undertaken by KTMI and Yuko’s Enterprises (EA) Co Ltd, while the slipway is done by Korean firms STX Engine Co and Saekyung Construction Company.
Work on the two old ships involves replacing the engines. The parts for the ship were built in Korea and transported to Mwanza, where the ferry is assembled. Moreover, the South Korean firm GAS Entec contracted Spanish engineering and technology group Sener to design a 1,200-passenger ferry which is has been constructed by 50%
The new ferry has been completed for 50 percent, MV Victoria 65 percent, MV Butiama 60 percent and the slipway 68 percent. In total once completed all the ships will ferry 2600 and 700 tonnes of cargo respectively at once.
