Safe Inland Ferry Services: “A Boost for Blue Economy Potentials” – Adalikwu
At MOWCA’s recent Regional Workshop on Safety of Inland Waterways and Passenger Ferries in Libreville, Republic of Congo, Adalikwu highlighted that Africa’s marine resources could significantly support economic development through efficient, safe, and convenient coastal transportation, provided they are properly harnessed.
Adalikwu called on governments to prioritize safety standards in ferry operations to prevent accidents and fatalities. He identified several issues, including unserviceable crafts, overloading, lack of life jackets, poor weather conditions, and wrecks in navigable channels. He urged African governments to invest in training and retraining crew members, both onshore and offshore, to enhance safety.
He also suggested that removing and recycling the numerous wrecks in waterways could have economic benefits while conserving the marine ecosystem. Adalikwu stressed the importance of marine safety at all levels of government, pointing out that many deaths are due to non-compliance with safety measures, such as traveling at night without adequate lighting, which increases the risk of collisions.
Adalikwu expressed optimism that safety standards in the marine sector could reach levels similar to those in aviation, noting that some West and Central African countries have recorded years with no aviation accidents. He called on governments to ensure the safety of even smaller crafts powered by outboard engines, emphasizing that ferry operators should not risk their own and passengers’ lives.
He noted that inland waterways are crucial for trade, social development, and tourism within African countries and for trans-border commercial activities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Therefore, these waterways should receive attention for security and safety.
Adalikwu referenced the frequent loss of lives and property from ferry accidents, citing the Esther Miracle ferry accident in Gabon on March 8, 2023, as a notable example. The workshop was part of the MOWCA-IMO Joint Action Plan (JAP) on cooperation between the two maritime organizations.
The workshop, held from July 15 to July 18, 2024, in Libreville, drew participants from nine countries and featured resource persons from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF). His Excellency Mr. Raymond Ndong Sima, Prime Minister and Head of the Congolese Transition Government, opened the workshop, which included dignitaries such as Navy Captain Loic Moudouma Ndinga, Minister of Transport, Merchant Marine, and the Sea of Gabon, and Marco Yamaguchi, Division Manager at the African Development Bank (AfDB).
Moderated by Capt. Sidney Direndi and Chief Agu Chukwuemeka Cajetan, the workshop featured presentations from Dr. Anish Hebbar of the World Maritime University, Capt. Dallas Lareya, IMO Regional Coordinator for West and Central Africa, and Capt. Mohammed Drissi, Africa Coordinator for the IMRF. The speakers underscored the importance of prioritizing safety on inland waterways and passenger ferries and highlighted the need for comprehensive legislative assessments and solutions.
Participants discussed country experiences in ferry operations from the Central African Republic, Gabon, the Gambia, and Nigeria. Other presentations covered marine insurance, best practices for passenger ferry safety, risk management strategies, and the implementation of international maritime safety standards, aiming to equip attendees with practical knowledge and skills for improving safety on inland waterways.
A communique issued at the workshop’s end urged MOWCA, the World Maritime University, and the IMO to create opportunities for capacity training programs, potentially subsidized, for stakeholders in the inland waterway sector. It called for the enforcement of safety cultures by public entities and operators, using successful funding models for enhancing inland waterway navigation.
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Other resolutions included ensuring vessel maintenance compliance, encouraging member states to adopt codes of good practice for ship inspectors, establishing digital systems for incident reporting, developing contingency plans for maritime incidents, strengthening monitoring of navigable waterways, enforcing applicable regulations for ships on internal voyages, and raising awareness about the CEMAC/RDC Regulation on inland waterways navigation. The workshop concluded with the adoption of the Libreville Action Plan for enhancing domestic ferry operational safety.
Participating countries included the Central African Republic, Gabon, the Gambia, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
