The Gambia Port Authority (GPA) has launched a dredge project at Barra ferry docking site to enable all ferries to dock safely and correctly. 

The project which cost €140,000 is expected to dredge a depth of 5 metres

and a width of 20,000 cubic metres at the Barra harbour. 

Deputy managing director for GPA Ferry Services Hali Abdoulie Gai told journalists “We are also looking forward to cut cost saving in our daily operation, because the current situation at Barra landsite is creating lots of cost in siltation. 

“Sometime the Kanilai Ferry cannot operate during low tide or it has to be restricted to carry small cars.”

Francis Gomez, director of technical service for GPA described this project as very important, saying during low tide the ferries find it difficult to dock at Barra landing point due to the shallow waters.

He said this project is very significant because the ferries, especially the bigger one (Kanilai and Kunta Kinteh) often encounter damaged at landing points. 

He added that the GPA has been spending huge money on the maintenance of the ferries. 

“Almost every two or three weeks we have to do some propeller service, which is very costly on us,” he said.

GPA’s hydrographic engineer Dominic Correa said the docking site needs to have adequate depth so that the ferries will land easily and offload passengers, adding “there is need for that area to be dredged to ensure the ferries land properly.”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba