There was total breakdown of authority and services at the ferries last Sunday night, between the hours of 20:24 and 21:50, as the Kanilai ferry was unable to dock and let off busy travellers, among them returnees from their weekly weekend outings to the countryside. This was caused by the much talked about installation of the new ramps at the (Banjul-Barra entry and exit points).
 
The Kanilai ferry had departed Barra at 19:47 heading to Banjul on a very high tide. The ferry did very well to cover it within the normal time it usually does, just under 40 minutes, only to be held at ransom at the anchoring point by a new faulty and dodgy ramp.

The Kanilai ferry tried between 20:24 - 21:05hrs to dock but to no avail, until the arrival of the Barra Ferry which also tried many times to dock, but still to no avail.  The breakthrough came in at 21:47 when the Barra Ferry finally managed to break the deadlock in the docking impasse by a shrewd captain doing his very extra best as best alone was insufficient.  There was no law and order as people took matters into their own hands to jump from the ferry unto the deck at a great risk. On a day as such people are just too concerned about themselves and their loved ones to think properly of what might happen to them if they fail to jump enough or get sandwiched between the ferry and the dodgy ramp.

After all clear with Barra ferry, passengers attempted to board the unloaded Barra ferry and after about hundred people boarded they were told to get out as service was suspended on the Barra in order to try to get the Kanilai to dock once again.

Second chance to deck

The Kanilai ferry finally managed to deck after just two attempts to the joy of the hundred stranded travellers on board this mighty ferry.  The travellers were delayed for over two hours and some continued their sombre journeys back home in the same fashion as they had experienced on board the ferry as there were very limited vans to Serrekunda at that late hour of beyond 23.30 hrs.

The possible problems that may have occured from this unfortunate event

The ferry under went series (about 25) of knockings of the dock of the ramp to anchor but to no avail and that might have created some knocks on the body of the ferry which could have had subsequent impact on the durability of the vessels.  On a more macabre side it could lead to a puncture on the ferry, the result of which could be fatal as we want water underneath the ferry and not in the ferry, especially if it is unwelcome water from an impact or a knock or collision with and other vessel.

The possible lessons

The GPA might have all their senior staff at homes enjoying with their respective families the comfort of their home environment. But I think it is prudent in the future to have some very senior staff at work to the last minute of the last ferries docking and evacuating the humble travellers.

It is also satisfying to note here that the GPA (ferries) will try to work on a plan B in case the relied and surest way fails.

I would also like to s ay to the GPA to replace or recommission the experts back to come and fix the faulty ramp they commissioned here as a new one. It looks new, nicely painted in blue but it is amazingly in a very bad working condition.  There is urgent and a great need for this ramp to be refitted so that the travellers who are so loyal and humble are given a very satisfying service to their respective destinations.

I will say here that this is not the first time on show that we experience this sort of unsatisfactory trail and error horror show on the Banjul-Barra ferries.  It is this time around that it has gone beyond reasonable limits.  Remember it is sea journeys and they are very unpredictable and they will turn nasty once they are mixed with amateurish professionalism or dogged with known faulty equipment, which could be isolated and solved at our disposal.  If that refuses to be the case then it is gross negligence of one’s duties.

It is hoped that the hem at GPA listens and learns before it is another horror and gruesome show of a capital propositions.

All this drama was taking place on the eve of His Excellency’s august Dialogue With the People’s Tour.

Editor’s note: The same thing happened the next morning, in full view of dignitaries, while we were waiting to board the ferry for the President’s Tour to begin. But all was well in the end.