LIKONI FERRY AND SAFETY

SAFETY AT THE LIKONI FERRY

The Likoni Ferry is a pedestrian and vehicular ferry transit operating across the Kilindini harbor waterway in Mombasa Kenya. It starts operating in 1937. It is operated by the Kenya Ferry Services (KFS), serving both the Island City of Mombasa and the Kenyan mainland town of Likoni. The double-ended ferries alternate across the harbor, carrying both roads and foot traffic. Passengers’ services are free while vehicles have to pay a ferry toll.

Safety is the state of being certain that adverse effects will not be caused by some agent under defined conditions. This is one of the prime strategic objectives and corporate mission in the Likoni ferry. The safety encompasses both the ferry operations and the office set ups.

Safety equipments and procedures are well documented and regularly revised in line with the changing demands. Furthermore, the KFS undertakes public awareness campaigns to sensitize their customers on the need to adhere to their rules of carriage.

The ferries are always equipped with ample safety appliances for use in the event of unlikely emergencies and such are regularly subjected to external examination by globally reputed experts in the field of safety.

There are life saving appliances, fire fighting appliances and communication equipment on board each ferry and off shore, for instance there are VHF Radio and Public Address Systems.

The staffs are also well trained in first aid, life saving, fire fighting, man-overboard and many other safety skills, and regularly get refresher courses to ensure they remain live to the safety requirements.

KFS has put in place elaborate security measures intended to forestall any breakdown in security procedures. The Kenya Police and hired private guards are always at hand to ensure compliance to security requirements by the users. The corporation also works in collaboration with the Port Police and has built two police booths both on the island side and on the mainland to ensure full time presence of the police.

A recent security audit certified KFS ltd compliant with International Ship and Port Security Facility code (ISPS) by virtue of measures undertaken to comply with the provisions of that code. Some of the requirements KFS were required to implement were:

ü  Fencing operation area to keep off non-ferry users.

ü  Erection of surveillance towers, which are manned by trained security guards, equipped with advanced surveillance equipment such as binoculars and telescopes.

ü  Robust and strong gates have been erected on operation area entrances and exits.

ü  Effective communication system with Kenya Ports Authority, Lighthouse and other agencies such as the Kenya Navy.

ü  Anti terrorist check/security: all vehicles boarding the ferries must pass through security check points manned by Kenya Anti-terrorist Police.

Other security measures that have been put in place include: hired private guards to control both the crowds embarking and disembarking from and in the ferries; ensure smooth flow of traffic; ensure systematic in and outflows of both human and motor traffic.

To uphold the safety in the ferries, the engineering department preprograms and handles all the maintenance for the ferries and its assets. The department does: routine maintenance to ensure that each ferry is serviced at least once every week; planned maintenance as per the manufacturer’s schedules; Lloyds Class Requirements including annual survey and inspection for mechanical and safety conditions of the vessel, docking survey for structural conditions, cathodic protections against sea barnacle growth, and general operating equipment, and special surveys of the complete overhauling of all operating equipment.