Wednesday 16 August 2017

Search, rescue plan in marine transport

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By Daily News Reporter

THE months of May, July, and September arguably arouse bad memories for some people, particularly those who lost their loved ones in marine accidents that claimed more than 2,000 lives in Lake Victoria and in two separate incidents in Zanzibar.

Although there have been several marine accidents, mainly involving small sea vessels including fishing boats, the ‘bad memories’ revolve around huge marine disasters that include MV Bukoba, carrying more than 1,000 passengers and cargo, which overturned and sank in Lake Victoria, half an hour before docking at Mwanza Port on May, 21, 1996.

MV Spice Islander I, a passenger ferry carrying over 2,000 passengers that sank off the coast of Zanzibar on September 10, 2011 was another sea tragedy followed by the sinking of MV Skagit, with more than 290 people aboard and cargo on July 19th 2012.

Every year different events are organised to remember those who died in the accidents, with repeated calls to improve sea transportation, mainly calling for accountability and strengthening of sea transport regulations.


No comments: