Tanzania ferry ignored warnings, veered off course
A Tanzanian navy officer leads away a survivor of the ferry tragedy in Zanzibar. Photo/Fidelis Felix
What you need to know:
MV Skagit (renamed MV Star Gate) was restricted to sail in partially protected waters not more than 20 miles (32km) from a harbour of safe refuge.
MV Skagit was also restricted to sailing in calm sea conditions in order to maintain the vessel upright and passenger movement was supposed to be minimised.
The ill fated passenger ferry MV Skagit that sank in rough waters off Zanzibar last week killing at least 60 people failed to observe operating restrictions on routes.
Investigations by The EastAfrican have revealed that MV Skagit was restricted to sail in partially protected waters not more than 20 miles (32km) from a harbour of safe refuge.
But the vessel sailed more than 45 miles (72km) from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar’s Malindi harbour, ignoring instructions and precautions set by the US Department of Transportation and the United Sates Coast Guard.
MV Skagit was also restricted to sailing in calm sea conditions in order to maintain the vessel upright and passenger movement was supposed to be minimised.
Documents seen by The EastAfrican last week and signed by the Commanding Officer US Coast Guard show the design specifications of the vessel were such that it could not withstand high winds, heavy seas or the movement of many passengers to one side.
The document says that the vessel was not allowed to carry cargo, just light carry-on bags, and the number of passengers allowed onboard was reduced from 250 to 148 as the vessel had been in operation for 19 years, passing its 15-year limitation of operations.
More than 80 people who were among the 290 who boarded MV Skagit at Dar es Salaam port were unaccounted for at the time of going to press.
Commander RW Henry, acting Commanding Officer of the US Coast Guard, said in the inspection documents that since the vessel’s route is based on other considerations in addition to stability, the operator was cautioned that the route may be further limited to that specified on the Certificate of Inspection.
Commander Henry said the vessel was not to add any fixed weights or be removed or relocated without the authorisation and supervision of the cognisant Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI).
The MV Skagit, which was operated by Washington State Ferries of the US Department of Transportation for over 19 years, sank on July 18 when sailing from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar.
Marta Coursey, director of communications for Washington State Department of Transportation’s Ferries Division, told The EastAfrican from Seattle that MV Skagit along with its sister ship MV Kalama were sold to a Tanzania firm, Sea Gull, for $200,000 each after earlier attempts to sell the vessels for $900,000 combined on eBay failed.
Sea Gull renamed MV Skagit, MV Star Gate. Ms Coursey said both vessels had current certificates of inspection from the US Coast Guard at the time of sale; the certificates of inspection, issued on May 17, 2005, expired on May 17, 2010 and the next inspections were supposed to be done before that date.
According to Ms Coursey, Washington State Ferries will not take part in the accident investigation as the vessel is owned by another foreign company.
“Our hearts and thoughts go out to the people who have directly experienced this tragedy,” she said.
The vessel, which was manufactured by VT Halter Marine of New Orleans in 1989, had a speed of 25 knots and a length of 112 feet; it was purchased by WSF for $6 million and was supposed to end its passenger services in 2006.
On February 17, 2011, WSF finalised the sale of MV Skagit and MV Kalama and handed them over to Scope Community Consultants Ltd (SCC) of Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada.
WFS said the plan was for SCC to prepare the vessels for heavy lift transport from Victoria, British Columbia to Houston, Texas, where the vessels would be transferred to another cargo vessel for transport to Mombasa, Kenya, with the final destination being Tanzania.
The vessels departed from WSF’s Eagle Harbour Maintenance Facility on Bainbridge Island on March 24 and 25, 2011.
According to the certificate of inspection of the US Department of Homeland Security Coast Guard issued on May 17, 2010, the vessel had life boats for 255 adults, 26 children, three ring bouys, one rescue boat and six inflatable rafts and met the requirements of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974.
Wednesday’s disaster, which comes barely nine months after another marine accident the sinking of the MV Spice Islader, killed more than 800 people.
Additional reporting by John Mbalamwezi and Rosemary Mirondo
