Reliable sources have confirmed to the Gambia Journal that there will be no scheduled rotations on Monday between Banjul and Barra, affecting both the Kanilai and Kunta Kinteh ferries. This disruption is attributed to technical problems, according to the sources.

In a press statement, the Gambia Ferry Services (GFS) management announced the disruption in the Banjul-Barra ferry route due to maintenance on both ferries, Kunta Kinteh and Kanilai. These technical issues forced the ferries to be withdrawn from service on Thursday.

On Friday, following a day-long breakdown at Banjul due to mechanical issues, the Kunta Kinteh and Kanilai ferries successfully completed their first Banjul-Barra trip. Mayor Rohey Malick Lowe and delegates were among the passengers aboard the Kanilai.

This brief resumption of service was interrupted on Sunday when the Kanilai Ferry, which had loaded and was en route to Barra, had to return to the terminal to offload. GPA sources informed that the ferry, which had been repaired 48 hours earlier, returned to the terminal due to a technical problem. The situation has been further complicated by a decision from the Ferry Services technical supervisor to allow the loading of the Kanilai Ferry, despite being aware of its issues. This decision was made in response to a request from the loading supervisor for one trip on Sunday.

Due to recurrent problems with the ferries, the management had recently procured new engines for both ferries, along with various other spare parts, according to sources with knowledge of the development.