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Sumatra says will not ban marine vessels to carry on passenger transportation
2008-07-21 09:04:03
By Felister Peter
The Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Authority (Sumatra) has said it will not ban boats and other marine craft because they fill in a gap in areas where big vessels do not operate.
Sumatra director general Israel Sekirasa, said in Dar es Salaam on Friday that the only challenge to ensure marine safety and security was compliance with regulations and minimisation of accidents which he said now occurred frequently.
Sekirasa, who was opening a stakeholders` meeting to consider draft regulations relating to maritime safety and security, said there were some islands and villages in the country which depended on marine craft as the sole means of transport.
He said Tanzania had extensive and large inland waters with close to 100,000 vessels, including boats and other marine craft, which made it difficult for his authority to monitor and patrol them with a view to ensuring safety of life and property.
Sekirasa said although Sumatra had managed to put in place regulatory tools, some vessels, including boat owners and operators, carried passengers and luggage beyond capacity.
``Although accidents happen and continue to occur, the rate has gone down from 15 accidents per year to only seven accidents per year,`` he said.
He said in ensuring safety for people and property, Sumatra was currently engaging private marine surveyors to carry out inspection and surveys of vessels throughout the country.
The Sumatra DG said they had opened offices and recruited personnel, mostly marine engineers, at Bukoba and Mwanza for Lake Victoria; Kigoma for Lake Tanganyika, and at Kyela for Lake Nyasa for the purpose.
However, he said, they had been discouraged by residents and sometimes village leaders who had very little to offer to the villagers despite their experience and traditional expertise.
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