The Independent
</publishers.html?passed_name=The%20Independent&passed_location=Banjul>
(Banjul)
December 1, 2000
Banjul
Following the passionate hue and cry over the discovery at the Banjul Port of
the mysterious vessel suspected of carrying toxic substances, some institutions
and individuals connected with maritime activities were blamed for supposedly
allowing the vessel to be towed to port.
Another theory to the MV Jonas, spoke of the vessel being a case of
environmental and maritime hazard to The Gambia. We herewith reproduce from a
high profile GPA official 'the true story' behind the vessel as a 'case of
illegal dumping of a wreck'.
The MV Jonas arrived into Banjul Port on January 24, 2000 towed by the MV Dali.
The National Environment Agency were the first institution to raise hell over
the presence of the ship in the port due to the following environmental
concerns: Dumping wrecks in international waters or foreign countries without
authority is an international crime, The nature of the ship (safety, health)
could not be ascertained, therefore it could pose serious environmental
problems. The ship got into Banjul escaping all formal official procedures and
requirements such as the following: It was totally incapacitated while it was
not operational may be for a very long time and was towed to port, it had no
last port of call where it came from before reaching Banjul.
As a result, there was no customs and port clearance from its last port of call.
It had no next port of call where it would be bound when it leaves Banjul.
It had no proper documents, such as certificate of registry or any other papers.
The owner or owners of the ship could not be established.
There was no navigational equipment on its bridge The boarding team did not
board the ship on its arrival. Consequently it was not properly cleared to enter
Gambian waters by the competent authorities.
The vessel cannot be repaired in The Gambia. The Banjul shipyard can only take
vessels of up to a maximum of 500 tonnes whereas the MV Jonas was about 1600
tonnes.
The vessel was not here for repairs as there are no markets for major ship
repairing facilities and navigational equipment. Was the GPA not concerned? How
can the wreck of a vessel be towed to The Gambia Ports Authority facilities with
or without the services of a pilot, but in any case with the full consent of the
authorities concerned.
It was indeed quite possible that the MV Jonas could be a navigational or
environmental hazard to the immediate environment of the Banjul Port. It is
interesting for the GPA to allow a wreck to be towed into the port, deposited
there and left to float without going through the normal port entry procedures.
Why was the NEA not concerned? Dumping of any craft, substance or other
chemicals that are harmful to the people or the environment is an international
crime. Therefore the MV Jonas is a clear case of possible dumping.
The vessel was taken out of the Port of Banjul and dumped outside Gambian
waters. The act also tantamounts to an international crime and as such The
Gambia seems to be stuck with this wreck of a ship whose actual nature cannot be
ascertained, whether it contains any harmful substance or otherwise.
When the MV Jonas arrived in Banjul in January 2000, Captain Cherno Jatta, the
Safety Manager was on leave while Captain A.R Bah was overseeing the harbour's
operations with Wally Sanyang. Therefore Captain Bah who was also responsible
for overseeing the harbour department can be held responsible for allowing the
MV Jonas in the Port of Banjul while at the same time he was a member of the
investigation panel looking into the circumstances surrounding the ship's
arrival.

Co

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask]
if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------