Authorities in The Gambia have reported that a ferry that was stranded for 12 hours in Barra’s northern coastal area has been freed from a fishing net. On Sunday, the Kunta Kinteh became stuck while carrying people and vehicles, infuriating the public.
According to local media, a patient in an ambulance on the ferry passed away during the challenging ordeal. The general manager of the Gambia Ferry Service Company (GFSC), Lamin Jawara, stated that the captain of the ferry had taken the fishing net off of the boat’s rudder propellers and tried to return to Banjul but was thwarted by a low tide.
“It was an unfortunate and regrettable incident. We apologise to all the passengers and Gambians at large,” Mr Jawara said, adding that the incident was beyond his office’s control.
He declared that the GFSC was collaborating with its allies, including the Gambia Navy and Maritime Administration, to prevent incidents of this nature.