Likoni Ferry

The Likoni Ferry is a ferry service across the Kilindini Harbour, serving the Kenyan city of Mombasa between the Mombasa island side and the mainland suburb of Likoni. Two - four double-ended ferries alternate across the harbour, carrying both road and foot traffic. The ferries are operated by the Kenya Ferry Services (KFS), and is the only remaining ferry service by KFS. The Likoni ferry started operating in 1937.[1] Passenger services are free while vehicles, tuktuks, motorcycles and trucks have to pay a ferry toll.

Likoni Ferry
LocaleMombasa, Kenya
WaterwayKilindini Harbour
Transit typePedestrian and vehicular ferry
OperatorKenya Ferry Services
System length500 m (1,600 ft)
No. of vesselsMV Harambee
MV Pwani
MV Kilindini
MV Mvita
MV Nyayo
MV Likoni
MV Kwale
MV Jambo
No. of terminalsMombasa island terminus and Likoni mainland terminus

The Mombasa side terminal of the Likoni line is located at the southern end of the Mombasa Island. The distance of the line is about 500 metres.

Service

In addition to the main Likoni line, there is a passenger-only peak hour service between Mtongwe and Mombasa island next to Bandari College. It crosses the Kilindini Creek few kilometres west of the Kilindini line. The service was halted pending repairs of the ramp that was damaged.

The new ferries MV Kwale and MV Likoni are moored at the Dradenau Terminal in the Port of Hamburg, Germany.
Likoni Ferry, early 1950s

There are five operating ferries. MV Mvita and MV Pwani were bought in 1969 and 1974, respectively. MV Nyayo, MV Harambee, and MV Kilindini were bought second hand in 1990. KFS is in process to buy two new ferries, but the order was repeatedly delayed.[2] The two arrived in June 2010. They have been christened as MV Kwale and MV Likoni.

Three of the operating ferries,MV Harambee, MV Nyayo and MV Kilindini have been deregistered from Lloyd's Register (an international maritime classification society), being not seaworthy.[3] As at May 2011, at least MV Nyayo was in use as the relief ferry, now painted blue.

The Dongo Kundu bypass has been planned to ease the congested ferry. The road would run from Shika Adabu (between Likoni and Diani) to Miritini (west of Mombasa Island, along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway). The road would be 12–24 km long depending on whether bridges would be built to cross the Likoni creek.[4] Currently the shortest route by road from Likoni to Mombasa Island is through the Kwale town, 30 kilometres southwest of Mombasa.[5]

A direct bridge or tunnel from Likoni to Mombasa Island had also been proposed, but the high cost of building them has made these options unlikely.[6]

The U.S. Dept of State in its travel advisory on Kenya updated on Feb 27, 2018 has cautioned the use of the Likoni ferry in Mombasa due to safety concerns.

Accidents

Mtongwe Disaster

On April 29, 1994, the MV Mtongwe ferry bound for the mainland capsized just 40 meters from port, killing 272 of the 400 people on board.[7][8] Following the disaster, it was reported that the capacity of the ship was 300. As of 2005, KFS had compensated 81 families a total of KSh 36,902,472 ($486,840 USD).[9]

MV Harambee Faulty Ramp

On September 29, 2019; A mother, 35 year old Mariam Kighenda, and her 4-year-old daughter Amanda Wambua boarded the MV Harambee Ferry, where they lost their lives after their car (Toyota Isis) slipped off the slippery faulty back ramp and plunged into the ocean.[10][11][12] As of October 2nd, the rescue team are using robots in order to locate the victims bodies trapped in the car.[13][14] On October 9th, the car and the corpses trapped inside were located by the South African divers 58 meters deep.[15][16] On October 11th 2019, past 4pm Kenyan time, the Kenya Navy divers retrieved the car with the corpses inside using the cord and a crane.[17] After the retrieval, vehicle was opened where the gear was found in Parking mode, the windshield wipers were on and the decomposed but identifiable bodies of mother and daughter were found dead in a tight embrace at the backseat of the car. [18][19] The deceased family was compensated KSH 200,000 for the car.[20]

MV Likoni

On Saturday night (October 12, 2019), MV Likoni's half part of the roof made of fixed iron sheets was almost blew away by the winds as it rained heavily leading the water to leak inside.[21] On Sunday night, MV Likoni stalled in the middle of Likoni channel facing mechanical problems while carrying passengers and vehicles, leading to it drifting under heavy currents. Moments later MV Jambo came to the rescue by pushing MV Likoni to the shore.[22] Another incident took place on Thursday, October 31st, when the same ferry stalled again, cause of the faulty engine leading the passengers to panic.[23]

Charges

Motorbike pays 50/-; Saloon car 120/-; Mini bus 600/- and Bus 1100/-. [24]

Pedestrians and cyclists ride for free

References
  1. "KFS History". www.kenyaferry.co.ke. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  2. Daily Nation, January 8, 2009: New ferries delay raises eyebrows
  3. Daily Nation, March 7, 2010: New ferries no magic wand, say experts
  4. The Standard, January 28, 2010: A bypass might solve the ferry debacle Archived 2012-03-14 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Kenya - The Rough Guide Map
  6. Daily Nation, March 7, 2010: State sitting on grand proposals over ferry problems
  7. Daily Nation, Wednesday Magazine, November 19, 2003: The restless ghosts of Mtongwe
  8. "Business". The East African. Retrieved 2020-05-29.
  9. Kenyan ferry firm compensates tragedy victims — Ferrynews
  10. "Search and rescue underway in Kenya after car plunges into ocean". The East African. September 30, 2019.
  11. "Mother and daughters identified as victims of Likoni Ferry tragedy". Standard Media. September 30, 2019.
  12. "Body of woman and daughter still trapped 60m underwater". Standard Media. October 1, 2019.
  13. "State using robots to locate Likoni Ferry tragedy victims". Standard Media. October 2, 2019.
  14. "Search for Sunday ferry tragedy victims widened to 9 probable locations". Capital FM Kenya. October 2, 2019.
  15. "Divers locate car that slid off Kenyan ferry". The East African. October 9, 2019.
  16. "Family of Likoni victims left frustrated as retrieval of bodies is delayed". Standard Media. October 11, 2019.
  17. "Likoni Ferry Tragedy, Bodies Finally Retrieved [Video]". Kahawa Tungu. October 11, 2019.
  18. "Kenya: Tough Task Ahead as Ferry Tragedy Probe Begins". All Africa. October 14, 2019.
  19. "Likoni mum and daughter died in a tight embrace". Standard Media. October 11, 2019.
  20. "Likoni Tragedy: Husband Receives Compensation [VIDEO]". Kenyans. October 15, 2019.
  21. "Another disaster in waiting at Kenya Ferry Services... This is MV Likoni". K24 TV. 2019-10-13. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  22. "Ferry stalls midstream with passengers and vehicles". The Star. October 14, 2019.
  23. "Panic, stampede in ferry as as[sic] phone bursts into flames". Nairobi News. October 30, 2019.
  24. "KFS toll charges". Retrieved 5 March 2019.

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