MV Aline Sitoe Diatta

The MV Aline Sitoe Diatta (named after the Senegalese freedom fighter) is a ferry in active service since March 2008 between Ziguinchor and Dakar over the Atlantic Ocean. The ship passes the mouth of the Gambia river.

Aline Sitoe Diatta at Dakar in 2008
History
Senegal
Name:	MV Aline Sitoe Diatta
Namesake:	Aline Sitoe Diatta
Owner:	Ministere de l'Economie Maritime et des Transports Maritimes Internationaux[1]
Operator:	Consortium Senegalais d'Activites Maritimes (COSAMA SA)[1]
Port of registry:	Dakar
Route:	Dakar—Ziguinchor
Builder:	Fr. Fassmer GmbH & Co. KG., Berne, Germany[1]
Yard number:	2060[1]
Laid down:	1 July 2006[1]
Launched:	25 October 2007[1]
Completed:	24 November 2007[1]
In service:	March 2008
Identification:	IMO number: 9383132 Call sign: 6WIX[1]
Status:	in active service, as of 2012
General characteristics [2]
Type:	RoPax ferry
Tonnage:	3,481 GT 693 DWT 1,045 NT[1]
Displacement:	2,349 t (2,312 long tons)
Length:	76 m (249 ft 4 in) o/a
Beam:	15.5 m (50 ft 10 in)
Draught:	3.2 m (10 ft 6 in)
Decks:	5[1]
Propulsion:	2 × 1,800 kW (2,414 hp) Wärtsilä 9L20 diesel engines 1 × 500 kW (671 hp) bow thruster 2 shafts
Speed:	14.5 knots (26.9 km/h; 16.7 mph)
Range:	1,750 nmi (3,240 km; 2,010 mi) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Capacity:	504 passengers 28 vehicles
Crew:	39

There are two voyages per week in each direction. The voyage takes some 15 hours, including boarding and debarking.

Since the accident with the MV Le Joola in September 2002, there is much more attention to the security of the passengers.

The vessel was built in 2006-07 by Fr. Fassmer Shipyards in Berne, Germany.