Passengers aboard MV Ilala had a rude awakening on Tuesday afternoon when the vessel’s engine developed a fault.
The incident stirred panic among passengers sailing from Chilumba in Karonga to Nkhata Bay, who thought the vessel was sinking and leaving nearly 100 Likoma residents stranded at the fallen jetty in Nkhata Bay.
Lloyd Saidi Banda, who is chief surveyor of vessels in the Ministry of Transport and Public Works’ Marine Department on Thursday attributed the incident to a faulty rubber coupling that connects to the engine of the vessel.
He said on Monday an engineer on board heard a ‘knocking’ sound from an engine and upon arrival at Chilumba, it was discovered that some parts of the engine had broken down.
On Tuesday, Banda said the ship started sailing back to Nkhata Bay using one engine as it was deemed safe.
“Seven nautical miles before arrival at Nkhata Bay, a rubber coupling that connects the engine to the gear box broke down and this resulted in the vessel failing to propel as only the generator was working without the engine and this caused panic among passengers on board,” said Banda.
He said later the ship managed to sail closer to the shore where passengers boarded the vessel’s boats and others belonging to fishermen.
Some of the affected people told The Nation that they arrived at the port as early as 8am on Tuesday in anticipation for the vessel which was supposed to leave for Likoma and Chizumulu in the morning.
A statement from Malawi Shipping Company dated December 4 2013 and signed by the company’s general manager Carlos Mendes said the company is working on assigning another vessel to cater for the Nkhata Bay, Likoma and Chizumulu area.
