Angola's new Ro-Pax vessel Tchiowa, which arrived in Cabinda province on Friday to reinforce cabotage links along the country's northern coast, will transport 1,280 tonnes of assorted cargo per week, provincial transport officials said.
The figure was disclosed to journalists by António Custódio, Cabinda's provincial secretary for Transport, Traffic and Urban Mobility, at a briefing following the vessel's arrival.
Custódio said the ferry is capable of carrying 640 tonnes of mixed cargo per sailing, along with 430 passengers, 168 light vehicles and 24 containerised trucks. The vessel will operate on a twice-weekly schedule, departing on Mondays and Thursdays.
Ticket prices will remain in line with the operator's official tariff schedule, with economy-class fares set at 22,000 kwanzas and executive-class at 35,000 kwanzas, Custódio confirmed.
The provincial secretary acknowledged that the ferry will stimulate territorial mobility, alleviate Cabinda's geographic isolation and enhance the flow of goods and trade across the region.
He urged business operators to make greater use of the vessel for cargo transport, particularly for basic food basket goods, describing the service as safe, fast and free of excessive bureaucratic requirements.
'We are confident that many operators will from now on prefer to load their trucks with merchandise and place them on the vessel, rather than travelling through the Democratic Republic of Congo, where excessive checkpoints along the route cause significant delays,' Custódio said.
The Tchiowa is managed by state operator Secil Marítima and represents a strategic investment by the Ministry of Transport costing more than 12 billion kwanzas.
Source: ANGOP / Original article: https://www.angop.ao/noticias/economia/ferryboat-transporta-mais-de-mil-toneladas-de-carga-para-cabinda/
