According to a reader who worked on Failaka for a number of years before he left Kuwait, the KPTC ferries that shuttle between the mainland and the island never operated correctly. He took the picture on top around a year ago and according to him the KPTC ferry pictured above is supposed to carry a maximum load of around 42 passengers but as you can see in the picture there’s lot more than that (over 300 according to the reader).
Makes you wonder what would happen in the event of a disaster. Would there be enough life jackets and life rafts available for every passenger?
20 replies on “The KPTC Ferries”
In the event of a disaster, the parliament would ban all ferries.
+1
+1
Very funny. Ur comment made me laugh, lol.
+1.. thats what they do XD
I saw one of these ferries fully loaded (not as many passengers as shown in the photo, but almost) trying to get into the inlet at Ras Salmiya in high winds. The captain had to pull back 4 times because the wind was so strong that it pushed the ferry into the rocks every time he approached. The ferry should never have been allowed to make that approach the first time in those winds and should have disembarked somewhere else. I don’t think safety is a priority.
I don’t know if its the horizon on the picture, but to me it looks like the boat is listing as well. Not good.
the camera was tilted, check out the horizon on the far left, its higher than on the right
Mark must be feeling the Titanic’s anniversary approaching.
This is a disaster waiting to happen. It’s only a matter of time.
well if it was designed to carry 45 Passengers so whats the weight distribution for each ? how many Tons it can carry ?
It can carry these many passengers only when there is no or very few cars (3 max)…
When there are no cars do more life jackets and life rafts magically appear?
bring your own Jacket… or i can teach you how to swim xD
I just told about about the capacity, and anyway looking at the ferry condition. A person would already know, that he is risking his life :p… coz the seats are broken, everything is messed up. I saw only 4 lifeboat equipment when I went few weeks back.
Since when do that many people actually go to Failaka Island on one ferry ride? I just went there and the place was not exactly booming with people. Is this photo from years ago?
I case of emergency KPTC will take action, just like last time when people were stranded in the island, Official action = just ignore it and blame it on other reasons
It’s OK, because someone has wasta! : [
over stuffing is a KPTC specialty actually. Take a look at their buses. When they take a turn they fuckin tilt to extreme points that I swear some of them could pass as good bets to flip over one day!
KPTC needs to review their safety standards and realize that its not just a question of how many people you could get from one point to another.
if this ferry got hit by a couple of big waves, there will be enough food for the sharks for a week!