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Nyerere

Nyerere

Nyerere
Photo: cgtn.com

The ro-ro passenger ferry Nyerere capsized on Lake Victoria near Ukora Island, Tanzania.  The Nyerere was within a hundred meters of landing at the dock when it lost stability and rolled over.  Nearby boats witnessed the ferry turning over and rushed to the scene.  They were able to rescued more than 100 people from the water.  Rescuers also recovered 40 bodies from the water. Authorities expect to recover more bodies in the following days.

Tanzanian authorities state there was an indeterminate number of passengers on board the ferry.   Some news accounts suggest the Nyerere was overloaded and could have more than 250 persons on board at the time of the incident. Reports do state the Nyerere had undergone maintenance in recent months and was considered seaworthy.

 

Update 21 September 2018

Initial reports on the number of survivors were incorrect.  Authorities now state only 38 people survived the capsizing and some 100 bodies have been recovered. The total number who were on board the Nyerere may never be determined. Reports state the person who had the manifest was lost and the equipment that tracked how many persons actually boarded the ferry.

Zanzibar Ferry Capsizes

Zanzibar Ferry Capsizes

A 35 meter long, 308 gt ferry capsized off Chumbe Island.   The ferry departed Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania with 281 passengers en route to Zanzibar when it was struck by strong winds and waves.  The ferry quickly lost stability and capsized leaving the Kalama mostly submerged with just a small portion of the keel.  Authorities dispatched rescue boats to the scene.   Reports state 124 people were found alive by rescuers while 24 bodies were recovered.   Some survivors were in good shape, but there were many who were found unconscious.  Authorities are continuing search and rescue operations.   Last report states the ferry has nearly sunk with only a small portion still visible.

There was some confusion to the name of the ferry.   Multiple reports refer the ferry as either the Skagit or the Kalama.  Both ferries were passenger-only ferries built for Washington State.  Both were built in 1989 serving the Seatte area before being sold overseas in 2009 after the local government discontinued the passenger-only vessels.   The pair of the vessels were sold to a firm in Canada for $400,000 before being sold to a company in Tanzania.

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Zanzibar Disaster

Zanzibar Disaster

The ferry MV Spice Islander capsized and sank three hours after leaving  the island of Unguja (Zanzibar), Tanzania bound for Pemba island.   Witnesses stated the ferry was overloaded with passengers and reports state there were at least 800 people on board.  Initial search and recovery teams have rescued 620 survivors many who were holding onto anything that could float.  However, 187 have perished and authorities expect the death toll to rise.   Tanzanian authorities have requested assistance from other countries while private aircraft and boats are assisting in the rescue and recovery efforts.

The 836 ton ro-ro ferry MV Spice Islander was built in 1967.  The ferry sailed as the Marianna from 1967 to 1989.  The ferry was sold and sailed as the Apostolos P. until 2007.  

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