By Saio Marrah
In a bid to cut the cost of making distress calls while out at sea, the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration (SLMA) has launched a toll free line in collaboration with Orange Mobile Network.
At a news conference in Freetown last week, the Acting Executive Director of the SLMA, Sama Ansu Gamanga, noted that: “what we have done here today is that we have launched our own toll free line (855) that will enable people who are in distress at sea to call. When they call that number there will be appropriate response”.
Gamanga said they have vessels for search and rescue purposes round the clock to respond to distress calls. He noted that the toll free line is localised and customised for people to reach them.
He also noted that they have stations from Yeliboya, in the north to Sulima in the south. He thanked Orange Sierra Leone for providing the free service and urged other mobile companies to support them as they execute their Corporate Social Responsibilities.
The President of Sierra Leone United Boat Owners Association (SLUBOA), Paramount Chief Bai Shebora Lion II of Mambolo Chiefdom, described the free toll line as another laurel being added to maritime transportation and fisheries. He said such a move will improve safety at sea, bearing in mind the importance of sea transportation for many Sierra Leoneans. He thanked the maritime administration for the initiative and gave assurances of SLUBOA’s full cooperation in realising the safety of seafarers. He said the toll free line not only benefits the boat users, but also the boat owners. He also used the event to acknowledge the SLMA’s supply of life jackets to the seven riverine districts of the country.
A representative of the Sierra Leone Seafarers Union, Tejan Savage thanked the administration for fulfilling what he said was one of their cardinal duties. He acknowledged that the various challenges of sea travel cannot be addressed overnight, and referred to an earlier supply of life jackets that was not enough, but again stressed the need for people to know how to conduct themselves at sea. Representatives of the Police and the Sierra Leone Navy also made similar appreciation for the launch of the toll free line.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (06/09/21)
