By Aminata Abu Bakarr Kamara
As Sierra Leone’s rainy season intensifies, thousands of commuters who rely on ferries between Lungi and Freetown are raising urgent concerns about deteriorating transport conditions marked by delays, breakdowns, overcrowding, and increasingly dangerous alternatives.
Many of the ferries in operation are more than 30 years old, plagued by mechanical issues, irregular schedules, and insufficient capacity, what should be a simple and reliable crossing has become a daily ordeal for workers, businesspeople, students, and patients alike.
Every morning I leave home before 5 a.m. to catch the ferry at Tagrin, but sometimes we wait for hours before it even arrives or departs, said Unisa Kamara, a lecturer at the University of Management and Technology (UNIMTECH) in Freetown, we’re soaked in the rain, with no shelter. When the ferry finally comes, it’s overcrowded and unsafe.
The rainy season has only worsened the situation. Heavy downpours, dense fog, and rough waters have led to repeated delays and increased safety risks. Many ferries lack functioning safety equipment, and basic passenger amenities are missing altogether.
We’re using ferries that belong in a museum, remarked Abdul Kamara, a businessman who travels between Lungi and the capital three times a week, People are fed up, that’s why many now risk their lives using engine boats and speedboats despite the terrible weather,
Indeed, the use of unregulated watercraft, including speedboats and engine-powered canoes, has grown dramatically, while faster, these options are far from safe, especially during the stormy months.
Speedboats are quick, but dangerous, said Mohamed Sorie, a university student. Last week, a boat almost capsized near Tagrin. Some people had to swim to shore it was terrifying.
Maritime observers and port workers are sounding the alarm over the lack of investment in marine transport infrastructure, aging ferries like the MV Mahera and MV Muzuk frequently suffer engine failures, often leaving passengers stranded for hours at sea.
We need newer ferries and better maintenance systems, urged Josephine Mansaray, a market woman at Dove Cut, this isn’t just about comfort it’s about our safety, we deserve reliable, dignified transport.
Local authorities have acknowledged the challenges but point to limited financial resources. Yet for many daily ferry users, repeated assurances without action have become tiresome.
We’re not asking for miracles, added Unisa. we just want to get to work and school safely, that shouldn’t be too much to ask in 2025.”
As torrential rains continue to batter Sierra Leone’s coastline, calls for urgent investment in marine transport particularly the acquisition of new, safer ferries are growing louder, the question that looms: how many more delays, near-misses, or tragedies will it take before decisive action is taken
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday,30th July, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
