Built in 2004 in Yunanistan, Greece, Selimiye represents a strategic step forward in modernizing river transport between Banjul and Barra. The vessel is expected to complete a single crossing in just 25 minutes, offering a faster and more efficient alternative to current services. Upon launch, it will operate daily from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The ship features a double-sided opening ramp and measures 80 metres in length, 17.5 metres in width, and 2.4 metres in depth. Powered by four engines, Selimiye boasts impressive capacity: it can transport up to 600 passengers and 30 trucks in a single trip, or alternatively, 600 passengers and 80 small vehicles. A third configuration allows for 600 passengers, 15 trucks, and 40 small vehicles.
This development is expected to significantly ease congestion and improve travel times across the River Gambia, offering a reliable and modern solution to one of the country’s most critical transport corridors.
The presence of the Selimiye Vessel will serve to ensure transfers of traffic from Senegambia Bridge, air transport and will ensure an improved water transport system, using Banjul-Barra as an international gate way to other countries, including Sierre Leone, Mali and Guinea Bissau.
This disclosure was made on Tuesday 26 August after a conducted media tour through the Negmar management.
Speaking during the media tour, his Excellency, Turker Oba, ambassador of Turkey in The Gambia, said that the project is here for Gambians, while describing it as a strategic project to improve mobility to facilitate the daily lives of many Gambians that are going back and front.
Onhan Demiral, acting managing director of Negmar Investment cooperation, revealed that the vessel is with a well-equipped maintenance team to ensure its must efficiency and up to date. He stated that in their ongoing construction project, they will also put water breakers on the sea.
He advanced that upon commencement of its river transportation; it will also be a development area for the trade sector on both river sides and beyond, while applauding Mega Bank for its good partnership towards the progress of the project. He also thanked the governments of the two countries.
Hali Abdoulie Gai, deputy managing director, Negmar Investment Corporation who gave a background information of the vessel, revealed that the Negmar Investment Corporation came to The Gambia in 2021 through a bilateral relations of both President Adama Barrow and the Turkish president.
He said Negma was the first private company to be given a license by the government of The Gambia to operate a ferry service between Banjul to Barra.
He said that the project has a responsible competition with The Gambia Ferry Services to support the Gambia as a whole.
