The UN Office for Project Service has built and handed over a river crossing barge to the government.
The 1.2 million-US dollar project, funded by the Japanese government was launched in 2019.
The initiative which was supposed to be completed that was delayed due to coronavirus-related impact.
Built by Japan Marline Science, the Barge with a capacity of carrying up to 25 tons has a speed limit of between 30 – 50 minutes per hour.
It also has two engines working with either diesel or petrol.
Once it is put to use, the barge will ease the country’s water transportation system, especially in areas that have no bridges for crossing the river.
William Mutihira who is a UN project manager handed over the barge this morning to the South Sudan authorities.
He said the assembling of the barge started in October last year and complete around the same time.
“We engaged private company to conduct assessment on the functionality of the barge, a few issues were identified, and risk mitigation strategies were set up and most of this has been addressed.”
“Today this handover signifies the role of UNOPS in managing the river barge construction has come to the end.”
“On behalf of UNOPS, I therefore take this opportunity to handover the barge to the Ministry of Transport, government of South Sudan which was design has the prototype and shall be used in accordance with recommendations shared by the contractor.”
On his part, the Japanese Ambassador to South Sudan, Tsutsuni Naohiro says river transport is key in the economic development of South Sudan.
“This river bus project will provide a prototype and I hope it will be followed by improved faster and more powerful ships in the future,” he said during the handing over ceremony.
Meanwhile, the Undersecretary in the national Ministry of Transport welcomed the Japanese support.
But Anna Gista Duku says the barge is not what the government agreed upon.
“We are grateful and has been said by my Director General, this is not supposed to be the barge we agreed upon but as somebody helping you, we cannot say no I don’t want to receive it. We are going to receive it in the good heart from a representative from UNOPS.”
The Ministry of Transport is yet to decide where the barge will be commissioned.
In 2016, the government of Japan – through UNOPS funded the construction of the River Port in Minkaman of Lakes State.