MV Pearl suspends operations for servicing
The maintenance services will cost Kalangala Infrastructure Services, the company that owns MV Pearl more than Shs550 million, about Shs185 million higher than the cost of operation at Port Bell. PHOTO BY IVAN KIMBOWA
What you need to know:
- The company’s marketing manager Mr Joseph Mulindwa said in the meantime, MV Ssese will be plying the same route that MV Pearl has been plying. Bukakata–Bugoma is the main access route to Kalangala’s main island, Bugala.
- The Kalangala District commercial officer Mr Cyprian Kavuma said the absence of MV Pearl will negatively affect the revenue collections in the district since many traders will not be able to transport goods in time.
MV Pearl, a marine vessel that operates on the Kalangala–Masaka route, has suspended operations for at least four weeks to pave way for its maintenance, ferry manager Mr John Baptist Lubega, has said.
Mr Lubega said the ferry will be taken to Kisumu Port, Kenya to undergo major repairs and overhaul.
Last year, MV Ssese and MV Kalangala were serviced at Port Bell dry docking facility in Luzira, Kampala, but MV Pearl could not receive the same services from there since the facility is currently occupied by MV Bukakata, also undergoing maintenance.
“We could not operate two vessels on the same facility and thus decided to transport MV Pearl to Kisumu for dry docking,” Mr Lubega said.
The maintenance services will cost Kalangala Infrastructure Services, the company that owns MV Pearl more than Shs550 million, about Shs185 million higher than the cost of operation at Port Bell.
The company’s marketing manager Mr Joseph Mulindwa said in the meantime, MV Ssese will be plying the same route that MV Pearl has been plying. Bukakata–Bugoma is the main access route to Kalangala’s main island, Bugala.
The Kalangala District commercial officer Mr Cyprian Kavuma said the absence of MV Pearl will negatively affect the revenue collections in the district since many traders will not be able to transport goods in time.
