Sunday, 30 November 2008

MV Serengeti to ply Uganda route

From The Sunday Vision, Kampala, Uganda
By Steven Candia

A Tanzanian ferry - MV Serengeti is set to begin plying Lake Victoria, connecting Mwanza (Tanzania) and Port Bell (Uganda), amid safety concerns and allegations of flouting of regulations and procedure by Uganda authorities.

Marine Service Company Ltd, a Tanzanian firm, last week ran an advert in the media announcing the commencement of the ferry’s services between the two ports.

“The passenger and cargo vessel MV Serengeti with the capacity of 350 tonnes and 690 passengers now operates along the route on a weekly basis. Freight and passenger charges are affordable,” the company said.

But the Transport Licensing Board (TLB), which regulates the transport sector, immediately dismissed as “illegal” the move by the company, saying the venture is riddled with breaches.

TLB also said the company had announced its operations in the country without registering.

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