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, Salimiye 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.
Negmar Investment Cooperation, the latest company to invest in The Gambia’s water transport system, promised to provide quality and efficient water transport service to meet public demand.
Valued at approximately $35 million, Salimiye, marks a significant investment in the country’s maritime infrastructure.
In an interview with The Point on the new development, Mr Gai assured that following the trial exercise, they are hoping to begin with an exciting and quality operations very soon.
“The ferry trial exercise went smoothly at the newly constructed slipway terminal in Banjul where two tankers, water and a fuel supplier, smoothly drove into the ferry from the constructed slipway in Banjul,” the deputy managing director said.
He also said they are expecting some of their technicians from Turkey to successfully dredge the rocks at the other side in Barra to enable the ferry to smoothly dock at its terminal.
“We are waiting for the technicians to come from Turkey for them to successfully dredge the rocks in the area to enable the ferry to dock at Barra because, we intend to have our trial ferry service very soon,” he said.
“The only challenge we face is that we have to dredge the rocks before the Barra slipway to enable the ferry to successfully dock at the terminal.”
Meanwhile, 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.
