Sierra Leone: President: Two New Boats Commissioned

Two New Passenger Boats Commissioned
By Marian Samu

President Kabbah, Vice President Berewa and Maxell Fairbout, Managing Director of Sea Star Company Limited onboard M.V. Opal

Just a week after His Excellency, President Alhaji Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah Commissioned the M.V. MURZUK, two more boats, M.V. OPAL and M.V. HELENA were on Thursday, 4th November, 2004 Commissioned by President Kabbah again.

At the commissioning ceremony held in the boat at the Government Wharf in Freetown, the Managing Director of Sea Star Company Limited, the proprietor of the boats, Mr. Maxell Fairbout expressed gratitude to President Kabbah for sparing time in his busy schedule to grace the ceremony.

Mr. Fairbout said the establishment of the company in Sierra Leone was made possible through the tireless efforts of the company's Chairman, Mr. Latala, who made the initial contacts to explore the Sierra Leone market for such a business venture.

With assistance and co-operation of government institutions and the Ministry of Transport and Communication, the Sea Star Company Ltd. has been able to commence operations in Freetown.

President Kabbah on a conducted tour of M.V. Opal

Mr. Fairbout said the two boats will be plying maritime routes along the West African Coast, and this, he said, will boost not only the local economy as people will find job opportunities there, but it will also impact the regional economy. He also disclosed that one of the boats will facilitate connection between Bonthe Island and Freetown at least once a week for a start.

The Minister of Transport and Communications, Dr. Prince Harding, said that the arrival of the boats in Freetown was as a result of the clarion call by President Kabbah for private sector involvement in boosting the economy of the country.

Dr. Harding explained that M.V. OPAL, which will be plying the Freetown-Monrovia-Banjul-Dakar route, has a capacity to carry five hundred passengers and M.V. Helena, which will be running between Freetown and Conakry has a capacity to carry two hundred and fifty passengers. He said that the movement of the vessels within the sub-region apart from enhancing tourism, will impact trade and mobility, and regional cooperation between the Mano River Union states and the rest of the West African states.

Dr. Prince Harding also disclosed that the M.V.OPAL will be competing with ECOMARINE, which is an initiative of Ministers of Transport in the ECOWAS region. He said the Ministers have held discussions on having this kind of ships along the West Coast to compete with other European ships that are using the route. Minister Harding reiterated President Kabbah's promise to the nation to provide safe, affordable and reliable transport facility.

He said they have not only fulfilled this promise but have most importantly provided the people with choice. He recalled that when the SLPP took over in 1996 there was only one malfunctioning ferry. But today, there are a total of six ferry-boats and a hovercraft, plus helicopter services. Even the airline industry, he said, has been opened up with a number of companies now engaged in healthy competition.

In his statement, President Kabbah noted that the maritime mode of transportation will contribute to easing transport problems in the country. He wished the company well and expressed hope that it would be able to thrive while doing business in Sierra Leone, as government will be looking forward to the much-needed revenue from taxes they will have to pay to government.

After cutting the tape, President Kabbah officially declared that the two boats were now ready for business, and together with Vice President Solomon Berewa and other dignitaries, he was taken on a conducted tour of the boats.

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