Kenya Ferry projects passenger numbers to top 180m by 2018

Likoni, Kenya: Kenya Ferry Services (KFS) projects daily passenger numbers crossing Likoni Channel to reach 500,000 in the next three years if the current trend continues.

Managing Director Musa Hassan said the channel has been witnessing an unprecedented surge in vehicular and human traffic, indicating growing economic activity on both sides of the waterway.

He said the company has seen a huge surge in passenger numbers, with a two-fold growth in the past five years, adding that in 2011, the firm handled on average 150,000 passengers daily. He said the number has doubled within the last three to four years.

"We currently deal directly with more than 300,000 passengers and over 6,000 vehicles crossing the Likoni channel between the island and the South Coast mainland every day and these numbers are likely to double if the same pattern recorded in the past four years is replayed." Mr Musa (pictured) said in Mombasa yesterday.

Last year, around 108,000,000 passengers and close to 2,000,000 motorists crossed the channel from the island to mainland and vice versa. These included tourists and those who cross to either side for work or business.

"Increased economic activities on the mainland side, for instance expansion of operations by Kwale Sugar and Base Titanium, coupled with increased effort to promote tourism at the coast, means more people will be crossing the channel and this could easily double to daily passenger numbers," said Musa.

He explained that the two new ferries procured by Kenya Ferry Services would help address commuter traffic when they arrive mid next year, noting that the tenders for the ferries have already been awarded..

"We have already awarded tender to a Turkish shipyard company, Ozata Tersanececik Ltd for design, build and commission basis, which is expected to deliver the new ferries by Mid-2016,' said Musa.

five vessels

The two ferries will replace "M.V. Mvita" and "M.V. Pwani", which were decommissioned in late 2012. The decommissioning has left Kenya Ferry with five vessels in operations which include "M.V. Nyayo", "M.V Kilindini", "M.V. Harambee", "M.V. Likoni", and "M.V. Kwale".

"Since decommissioning of two ferries, Mtongwe residents have had to use the Likoni ferry crossing, putting more pressure on the Likoni channel," Musa noted.

Kenya Ferry Services was established in 1989 by the Government and has played a pivotal role in linking the island to the mainland south of Mombasa. Unlike the northern side of Mombasa that is linked by bridges at Nyali, Mtwapa Kilifi and Sabaki, the south coast depends solely on the ferries.

The service is operated freely for passengers as a government social obligation and motorists pay a minimal charge.