MV Kimbia arrives at Kumaka

North West ferry MV Kimbia arrived at its destination at Kumaka in the Region One area safely yesterday afternoon, to several happy families awaiting their loved ones.

The ferry sailed out of Port Georgetown for the North West around 3 pm on Saturday afternoon, one day after returning to the city from an aborted trip. The vessel encountered a steering problem after departing the Kingston wharf of the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) on Thursday afternoon. It was subsequently towed back Georgetown where repairs were undertaken to its steering column.

The aged  vessel made a stop at Morawhanna, a location along the Barima River  en route to its final destination at Kumaka, around 3 pm yesterday afternoon and relatives of passengers on board told Stabroek News that many anxious relatives and friends stood at the wharf at Kumaka awaiting the vessel’s mooring

Except for the rough Atlantic seas, one passenger told this newspaper briefly by mobile phone that she was happy that the trip, which she described as exhausting, had come to an end.

Transport Minister Robeson Benn met with passengers and briefed the media shortly before the vessel departed for the interior on Saturday afternoon.

Passengers had complained last August that the service needed to be improved, following instances of overcrowding. Similar sentiments were expressed by passengers following this most recent incident. Some complained of awful conditions including a lack of food and water and an unbearable stench.