Boats from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar suspended as tropical cyclone approaches
What you need to know:
- Water transport and other maritime activities in the coastal areas of Tanzania have been suspended as Tropical Cyclone Hidaya is expected to make an impact.
Water transport and other maritime activities in the coastal areas of Tanzania have been suspended as Tropical Cyclone Hidaya is expected to make an impact.
Boats operating from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar have suspended their services due to adverse weather conditions.
Mwananchi Digital visited the ferry area in Dar es Salaam and witnessed passengers returning after authorities announced the postponement of these trips.
The Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) has been warning since Thursday, May 2, 2024, about the approaching Cyclone Hidaya, which is nearing the coast of the Indian Ocean, advising against maritime activities, including traveling from Mainland Tanzania to the isles.
Similarly, the Tanzania Electrical, Mechanical, and Electronics Services Agency (Temesa) has issued a notice to ferry users in certain areas of the Mtwara, Lindi, and Coast regions, including Mafia Island, Dar es Salaam Region, and Tanga, informing them of the suspension of ferry services in those areas to safeguard against any potential impacts arising from Cyclone Hidaya and to ensure the safety of ferry users.
Temesa stated that it continues to monitor weather updates provided by the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) to ensure the safety of all passengers using ferry services.
"Temesa apologizes to all passengers for the inconvenience caused by the challenges posed by the presence of the cyclone and reminds them to continue following the instructions of the boat captains at all times to remain safe," reads part of the statement.
Temesa mentioned that on May 3, 2024, ferry services were suspended due to strong winds at sea, and today and in the coming days, they will remain suspended until further notice from the Meteorological Authority.
One of the ferries that suspended its services is MV. Kilindoni, which was scheduled to depart from Mafia to Nyamisati at seven o'clock last night did not depart due to strong winds. It will wait until sea conditions improve and the authorities declare otherwise.
According to the latest updates from TMA, Cyclone Hidaya continues to make its way to Tanzania's coastline. Currently, some parts of the country are experiencing strong winds and rainfall. The cyclone is expected to weaken on May 6.
