The Boat Union in Bor has cautioned ferryboat drivers
that they must observe boarding procedures to avoid overcrowding and maintain
correct leveling of the cargo and passengers on board.
The warning was issued after a boat transporting almost
1,000 people from Bor to Mingkaman nearly capsized in the middle of the Nile on
Wednesday, owing to an uneven seating arrangement.
The boat's rear and front were apparently heavier than
the central section, resulting in an unequal load distribution from the
midsection to the breaking point.
However, the matter was resolved in a timely way,
according to the interim chairman.
To avoid overloading, Elijah Thongbor argued that a
middle-size ferryboat should carry no more than 20 metric tons of products or
200 persons.
“When the passengers on board have reached the maximum
number, the rest should be arranged for another boat to avoid putting many
lives at risk of boat accident,” Thongbor stated.
David Garang Aleer, a boat driver, responded by saying
they always follow the boarding procedures but blamed the passengers for being
unorganized.
Garang added, “Some will continue to force themselves to
board. This is a challenge to us and needs to be addressed by the leaders of
the union by setting up a committee that will manage such people.”