Kanilai Ferry’s Transformation Nears Completion Ahead of Commissioning
Kanilai Ferry © MoTWI
By Edward Francis Dalliah
As we enter March 2025, it is important to recall that in November 2024, the Managing Director of the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA), Mr. Ousman Jobarteh, informed Askanwi that the Kanilai Ferry was expected to return to service in March 2025. This follows the Ministry of Transport, Works, and Infrastructure's (MoTWI) earlier commitment that the ferry would be “expected to [be] back in the waters offering Ferry services to the public in September 2024,” a promise that was not met.
However, on Tuesday 4th March 2025, the Ministry of Transport, Works, and Infrastructure published a Facebook update revealing that most of the work on the ferry has been completed. According to the post, “the new look of the re-engineered Kanilai Ferry [is] waiting to be launched off the Banjul Shipyard on Wednesday, 5th March 2025.” However, the launch will differ from the ferry’s official commissioning, as some final work is still pending.
Kanilai Ferry © Gambia Ferry Services
The General Manager of The Gambia Ferry Services, Mr. Abdoulie Tambedou, highlighted that although the ferry will be launched at the Banjul Shipyard, there is still work to be done. He explained that they will “complete the alignment of the engines and the propulsion system and wait for SRPs, including the propellers that we hope to receive in the next three weeks, and once it is received, the ferry will be back in service by the end this month or early next month.”
The Kanilai Ferry has been out of service for almost a year following a breakdown on 12th April 2024, while on its way to Barra with passengers, goods, and vehicles. Originally commissioned in 2005, the ferry had been serving the Banjul-Barra route but began experiencing mechanical failures due to years of operation without adequate maintenance. These issues ultimately led to its breakdown last year.
During an interview at the Banjul Shipyard on 4th March 2025, both the Minister of Transport, Hon. Ebrima Sillah, and the General Manager of the Ferry Service expressed their satisfaction with the progress made on the Kanilai Ferry. Minister Sillah highlighted his satisfaction with the work completed within the ‘short time’ frame, noting that, most importantly, it was Gambians who had led the reengineering efforts.
The Kanilai Ferry has undergone extensive repairs, including the removal of marine growths from beneath the vessel and the replacement of worn metal plates. Additionally, four new engines and their cooling systems have been successfully installed, as per the latest update.
Currently, only one ferry is operating on the Banjul-Barra route. Should it experience another breakdown, passengers who rely on the ferry for work and business will be forced to use local canoes or take the longer Trans-Gambia route.
