MV pearl returns after two months of servicing

Wakiso, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |  MV Pearl, the second marine vessel that plies the Masaka – Kalangala route through the Bukakata and Lukku -Bugoma docking piers has returned after three months of servicing and upgrade.

The Marine Vessel had been taken to Kisumu, Kenya in April for an overhaul, part of the routine maintenance program aimed at checking vessel’s viability to transport people and cargo to and from the Island District.

While on service, the vessel was installed with high tech navigation systems, that allow operators to circumnavigate around the equator’s north and south poles with ease. Before this, the vessel was using a magnetic compass for direction while transporting people and cargo to and from Kalangala.

The overhaul also involved checking the Vessel’s hull and ballistic tanks to ascertain whether they have any damage before it was repainted and upgraded. The vessel’s lavatory systems have also been reopened before it sailed back to Uganda on Thursday.

The Vessel is currently undergoing seaworthy tests at Port Bell, the vessel’s port of Origin.

“We await results of tests by engineers at Port bell in Kampala to start sailing to Kalangala for our normal operations.” Says Joseph Mulindwa the Ferry Spokesperson. MV Pearl is a free ferry used by all people moving to and from the islands.

Kalangala district has four marine vessels that transport people and cargo. All vessels dock on the district’s main island Bugala, leaving the rest of the 63 habited islands in the district inaccessible. These include MV Vanessa, MV Kalangala, MV Ssese and MV Pearl.

The return of MV Pearl from servicing according to Robert Ssebalamu, the Vice-Chairperson of Ssese Islands Tourism Development Association is a boost to Kalangala transport and the development of tourism in the Ssese Islands.

“We have been struggling to inform tourists on which vessel to use whenever they pass through the Masaka route. We await a new schedule of convenience for all those travelling to and from Kalangala.” Says Ssebalamu.

Ssebalamu, however, calls upon the government to provide a ferry that transports, connects distant island dwellers to Kalangala’s main Island Bugala.   Currently, people from the furthest islands use risky cargo boats for transport and connection to the mainland and the District’s main Island, Bugala.

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