the other side of the LCT Spice Islanders tragedy: From the horse's mouth

LCT Spice Islander at the docks

All Media in Tanzania and the Rest of the World, on 10^th of September, Only one day Before September 11,the Day that the Whole world are remembering the 10^th anniversary of September 11, Zanzibar Got Disaster of its own Kind.

 My Name is SABRY, a Victim of this Disaster of Devastating MV Spice Islander in Zanzibar which Sinks on the Night of the Friday 9^th where this Ship, infact not a Ship it is Just a Ferry which have been Registered to Carry Cargo from in Zanzibar only because its Registration of operating in Daresalaam, Tanzania was Restricted by SUMATRA, The Authority which oversees all inland and Sea Transportation because of it’s Bad Technical Condition.

So What Happened . . . .?

“After Celebrating the Finishing of Ramadan, I was having bad Dreams about my Family, and because my Wife (Saade Hamad Bakar) is Planning to Travel, I was much Concerned about this Trip.” Said Sabry.

On my (author's) wedding day

It was Tradition here in Zanzibar that, When a Member of the Family is Getting Married it is mandatory to all members of the Family whenever they are to attend and Give Blessing to Groom and Bride and Bide Farewell. Because of this Tradition I give Permission for my Wife to attend this Ceremony in Matuuni Pemba, the other Part in Zanzibar accompanied by her Sister In-law, Amina Mmanga with her Baby Mariam.

I make all Preparation for this Trip including accompanying her up to Port but I didn’t get the access to see the Situation because the Environment in the Devastating and the area was too much Populated with about 3,000 Travelers who all of them want to get on Board of the Ship. I leave my Wife to his Brother to assist her on the Ship.

When the Trip Starts

The Ship Starts its Trip from Dare salaam, on Friday 9^th But the unconfirmed Report said that, the Ship was loaded with Cargo and Passengers more than its Capacity and this Gives a Room for SUMATRA to intervene and Stop the ship until some of the Cargo have been unloaded. The Crew tried to unload some of the Ship until SUMATRA was agreed with the Capacity and Release the Ship.

MV Spice Islander arrived in Zanzibar Port the same Day with about 300 Passengers (the infants and trace passer are not accounted) with estimation of more than 100 Passengers that were not in the Ship Manifesto. The only One Third of the travelers from Dare salaam finish their Trip in Zanzibar and the Remaining People Estimated to be 350 remain for the Next Trip, Pemba Trip.

Now the Pemba Trip Began.

The MV Spice Islander was already having about 350 Travelers with Cargo which includes Iron Steel, Wheat, Rice, Cement, Seven Prado Cars and other Models, Just to Estimate.

Ferry boats are inherently unseaworthy in rough weather and dangerous because they sink quickly once they begin to take on water or capsize in heavy seas or experience collisions with other vessels or reefs. Moreover, regulations are lax and not enforced in many countries with the result that ferries are over-loaded and carry insufficient life preservers.

Now, Port Authority allowed the Crew to Board 610 New Travelers according to Ship Manifesto including more than 400 infants which have not shown in the Manifesto because they were allowed to Board the Ship without a Ticket. We are Saying more that 400 infants because it is a Tradition in Zanzibar on this time of the Year when Students travelled to Unguja to celebrate the Ending of Ramadan (EID) with the other Members of the Family and also was a Wedding Season and the Family Member was travelling to back to Pemba. Also there is a lot of Trespassers who were not recorded in the Ship Manifesto because no official ticket were given

So the Total Number of Travelers on Board are Estimated to be between 1,500 – 2000.

After seeing the Bad situation onboard the Ship, Some Travelers opt to leave the Ship BUT Crew were very Restricting some travelers to come outside the Ship because of their Commercial Reasons.

When the Ship start the Journey there were some Technicality were seen and it was returned to the Docking Station to Rectify the Problem. The Cargo was and the Captain starts the Engine and when seen it is Floating without earlier Problems, The Journey Started and the Trip normally takes 8 to 10 hours to reach Pemba Island. Some unconfirmed Report said that even the Owner of the ship was alerted and after long Discussion they decide to let the Ship Starts its Journey.

It was around midnight when I Received the First Call from my Sister in-law that, there is unconfirmed Report that the MV Spice Islander is Sinking! I was Shocked because on my earlier dreams I see this and in three days before this I was not in Good Mood, I was sure now it Happens, Yes the Ship is Sinking and I started to Prays!

What Authorities have to Say…..

The Official Report said that, there are 600 People that were saved and about 200 Hundred Dead Bodies Recovered but the Number of Deaths are still numbered.

ON Official Interview with Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation, H.E Hamad Masoud (Engineer) Minister of Transport Zanzibar said that, among of the Reasons for this accident is the Tradition that Zanzibarians have that they are travelling in Family Groups, many infants and they are boarding the Ships even its already loaded. He insisted that the Government will Plays its Part to make sure the Accident like this will NEVER Happen Again.

Now this Three Question has to be answered by the Authority.

1.How Many times the Zanzibar Authority through its Security Forces has succeeded in Restricting Public Demonstrations against the Government but Failed to restrict this Trip to Start?

2.The same Accident has happened with MV Fatahi and the AUTHORITY was commissioned Special task Force to investigate the Accident and advice the Government and the Report Reveal among many, the Bad Condition of the Ships and overloaded as among factors, was this Implemented?

3.Before embarking on a ferry trip in open water, travelers are well advised to check the weather forecast; whether there are sufficient life preservers on the ferry; and to get off if it appears that the vessel will be overloaded, Was this done Properly?

Some Reports says, there is still trapped Dead Bodies on Ferry especially those who were in the first Class Rooms.

Also all officers of the Government who are Present at the Port have to answer some of the above question and Prove that this is not a Corruption Scenario.

Also we are asking Captain of the Ship, MV Spice Islander and his Crew Members have to answer this Question as there is Report that they unload the Small Boat and Runs away.

What the Victims have to said;

I was in a MV Spice Islander and when we got into Nungwi the Ship starts to crack and water come inside, we are instructed to go other side of the Ship and when we go there and that side also starts to sink and SOS instructions were given and I Jump to the water, Fortunately I grasp a Sleeping Mate which save my Life” Traveler

I saw a number of Dead Bodies along the seashore of Nungwi resembling the Coconut” A Whiteman who runs diving Shop in Nungwi.

Now Personally, I am Ready to assists the Authority in Investigating this Accident so that the Normal People like me can Prove that the Authority are Not Corrupt.

 “The Last word of my Wife still is in my Head, Please return Home”

God Bless Africa,

God Bless Tanzania,

God Bless Zanzibar

  

Contacts:

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