A new ferry, purchased by the Gambia Ports Authority to ease transport along the Banjul-Barra crossing point has arrived yesterday morning at the Banjul Ports.
A Netherlands company Damen Shipyards that built the ferry delivered it to the country more than a month ahead of schedule.
According to media sources, the ferry was built entirely in the Netherlands to a very tight deadline, with the hull constructed in just 70 days at Damen’s subsidiary Niron Staal in Amsterdam.
The outfitting was then carried out at Damen Shipyards Gorinchem.
The passenger and vehicle ferry is designed with a very flexible layout where it can be reconfigured from passenger and vehicle transportation to passenger-only, when it has a capacity of up to 2,000 persons.
The Damen Shipyards said the versatility facilitates passenger transportation during local celebration days.
Damen Sales Manager Africa, Peter Post comments: “This special ferry has been designed in close cooperation with the client and this has resulted in a safe, fuel efficient and maintenance friendly vessel built to the latest standards in shipbuilding.
“The ferry is built under BV class. We are also providing an extensive training package and a long-term maintenance agreement. The vessel will sail under the Gambian flag.”
The ferry was transported via a heavy lift vessel from the Netherlands and arrived safely over a month ahead of schedule.
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