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EAC body to establish marine security center in Lake Victoria

Xinhua, June 20, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) is set to establish the East African maritime security coordination center in Mwanza city, which will guarantee safety for passengers, fishermen, and other maritime vessels in the Africa's largest fresh-water lake.

LVBC is a specialized institution of the East African Community (EAC) that is responsible for coordinating the sustainable development agenda of the Lake Victoria Basin.

The regional security center will be fitted with sophisticated information and communication systems that will inform the three EAC's member states if anything happens in the lake.

Lake Victoria is shared by three EAC states namely Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda

Maritime transport, safety and security officer, Eng. Gerson Fumbuka said the 25-million U.S. dollar project will make the lake free from disasters such as the MV Bukoba ship, which sank in 1996, killing 894 on board.

He said that the center will also be equipped with rescuing boats in case of emergency and will also be fitted with communications tower that will help to direct ships and other marine vessels to navigation sites at Mwanza south port.

Fumbuka said that the project would cost almost 25 million dollars that will be funded by the African Development Bank.

The new center will be located at the marine services, Mwanza north port.

He said that the center will specialize in searching and evacuating people, and it will make its communications through satellite and disseminate the information to the ports whereby within 15 minutes the emergency boat will be arriving at the intended area.

Recently, EAC body handed over aids to navigation to the Kenyan government to improve transport on Lake Victoria and wider access to other ports in East African Partner States.

The aids to navigation on the lake are expected to guide cargo ships, tourist ships and passenger ships cruising between East African towns of Kisumu, Mwanza, Entebbe and Portbel. Endit