Kenyan Rail Ferries To Boost Intermodal Transport Links In African Great Lakes Region
Intermodal transport across Lake Victoria has received a fresh boost with the launch of the newly built wagon ferry MV Uhuru II. Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta was on hand to witness the ferry’s launch as he commissioned Kenya Shipyards Limited’s (KSL) refurbished shipbuilding facility at Kisumu on Tuesday.
Construction of the US$20 million ferry began in May 2021.
The ship, KSL’s first project, was a joint venture with Dutch partner Damen Shipyards.
The 1,800-tonne ferry, which is designed to carry freight wagons, will complement the existing rail ferry MV Uhuru which has been in service on Lake Victoria since 1966.
The original ferry, which was out of use for 15 years, reentered service in 2019 following a US$419,000 overhaul. The Uhuru II is due to set sail on its maiden voyage later in August.
The vessels, along with the newly upgraded shipyard, are expected to boost job opportunities in Kisumu as well as intermodal transport links in the African Great Lakes region. The shipyard has created 1,900 local jobs with a focus on women and youth employment, Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) reported.
According to data from the Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC), the Uhuru 1 was refurbished in order for the corporation to tap into the growing petroleum trade between Kenya and Uganda. The vessel can carry 22 tank wagons for a total of more than 1.1 million litres.
At 80% availability, the ship can make 10 round trips a month on the 282km route between Kisumu and Port Bell in Uganda. Like its forebear, MV Uhuru II will also be used to ferry mostly petroleum and petroleum products to neighbouring countries, KBC reported.
