New vessels delivered to improve safety on water

Promoting safe water transport

TANZANIA: Two fast search and rescue boats and a modern ambulance vessel have been brought into service in Tanzania to improve safety in the Lake Victoria area.

Built by Turkish yard, Contractor Loça Mühendislik, the two rescue boats arrived at the Port of Dar es Salaam on Friday last week where Mha Saidi Kaheneko, Acting Manager of Registration and Inspection of Water Transport Vehicles said that the arrival of the boats represented a major step to enhance water transport.

“These boats have high speed capabilities and will be used to support rapid search and rescue operations for victims of water accidents, which will reduce the impact of emergencies on Lake Victoria,” said Mha, Kaheneko, speaking on behalf of the Director General of the Tanzania Shipping Agency

The boats are expected to be transported to Mwanza region to assist in search and rescue operations on Lake Victoria where they will promote safe trade and transport in the country.

Earlier this month, Mwanza Regional Commissioner, Said Mtanda inspected a Modern Rescue and Medical Ship built under the Lake Victoria Regional Transport and Communications Project, which includes Tanzania and Uganda.

Speaking during his visit from the Northern Port and back, Hon. Mtanda thanked the Sixth Phase Government under Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania for seeing the importance of investing in the Lake Victoria area to ensure its citizens are safe when traveling and carrying out economic activities including fishing.

In addition, he said the boat will provide an opportunity for patients who experience any emergencies at sea to reach them quickly and provide emergency treatment before reaching land for transfer to a referral hospital in the relevant area.

The captain of the boat, Grayson Mwarwa, noted that the boat has the capacity to accommodate four patients at a time with 12 others being treated at the same time and that it has an oxygen supply service for patients.