By Africa Links 24
Published on 2024-02-23 15:53:01
A new era of freight transportation is set to begin with the launch of the MV Mpungu from Entebbe on the shores of Lake Victoria. The ‘roll-on/roll-off’ vessel, designed to accommodate trucks driven on at the departure port and driven off at their destination, is expected to revolutionize trade links between Uganda and neighboring Tanzania.
The MV Mpungu will operate scheduled freight services between Port Bell, near Kampala, Uganda’s capital, and Mwanza, located at the southern edge of Lake Victoria in Tanzania. The journey, which will only take 18 hours, is a significant improvement compared to the three to four days usually needed to transport goods by truck around the shores of the lake.
Built in Entebbe over a period of 21 months by SECO Marine, a part of the Kenyan-headquartered Alpha Group, the 96-meter-long MV Mpungu has a capacity for up to 1,000 tons of containerized cargo, equivalent to 21 trailers. The vessel was commissioned by the joint venture East African Marine Transport (EAMT), established by InfraCo Africa and pan-African logistics company Grindrod. Grindrod will be responsible for operating the MV Mpungu.
Xolani Mbambo, CEO of Grindrod, expressed that the ferry operation aims to provide a reliable, efficient, and cost-effective solution for businesses in the region to promote trade and contribute to economic growth. Rodney Seema, InfraCo Africa’s regional asset management lead, highlighted that the costs of transporting goods to the market can be prohibitively high for traders presently, and the ad hoc nature of current freight transport across Lake Victoria leads to economic costs for businesses, particularly those with time-sensitive cargo.
Seema emphasized that the MV Mpungu will offer significant benefits for companies dealing with time-sensitive fresh produce, allowing them to plan shipments, save time, avoid spoilage, and prevent driver fatigue. Moreover, the vessel’s professionally built and operated nature promises a safer mode of transport compared to long-distance road journeys, which are responsible for a significant number of accidents and fatalities in Uganda and Tanzania.
With its focus on fuel efficiency and reduction of carbon dioxide emissions through displacing road transport, the MV Mpungu is poised to bring environmental benefits as well. Seema believes that the development of marine transport in the region, particularly through vessels like the MV Mpungu, could attract further investment in the sector and expand available routes to open up new markets for freight carriers across the region.
As the MV Mpungu sets sail on its maiden voyage, there is optimism and excitement surrounding the potential for growth in marine transport in the region. With plans to expand services to other ports in Uganda, Tanzania, and potentially Kenya, the future looks bright for the use of Lake Victoria as a vital conduit for trade. Minister Echwera Musa, in his praise of the project, predicted a promising future for marine transport in the region, foreseeing a time when the lake will be full of reliable vessels serving the needs of businesses and communities alike.
