New ferry between Dar es Salaam and Bagamoyo

Ferry service aimed at easing congestion around Dar es Salaam

A new ferry is set to begin operating between Dar es Salaam and Bagamoyo, following a trial run attended by Tanzania's minister for works John Magufuli in early March.

Magufuli said that the ferry, which can carry up to 300 passengers plus cargo, will soon be inaugurated by the country's president Jakaya Kikwete as part of plans to ease congestion on roads between Dar es Salaam and the town of Bagamoyo, north of the city.

The state-of-the-art MV Dar es Salaam ferry was built by Danish company M/S Jogs Gram-Hanssen Construction and was completed the work late last year.

The Tanzanian government has described the vessel's $4.5 million price tag as a worthwhile investment, saying it would save commuting time in the coastal region and boost production.

In recent years there have been a number of ferry disasters in the greater Dar es Salaam area, in particular the MV Skagit in 2012 and the MV Spice Islander in 2011. Both ferries were heavily overcrowded and both sank between the mainland and island of Zanzibar.