Click on this link and take a look!

The link is to the trailer for a documentary to come telling the EarthWise Ventures story.

The Documentary is being produced by Trey Mather and Leslie Cours. (trey mather.com).

Let us know your thoughts

Difficulty at Port Bell

Thursday afternoon MV Amani’s engine had to be shut down due to an engine overheating. The problem turned out to have been caused by the cold water in-take becoming fouled with bottom debris while at the Port Bell wharf.

MV Amani was at the Port Bell wharf to pick up two government ministers, and other ministry officials along with some media journalist for what was to be an uneventful trip around the bay.

Just outside the harbor the engine began to overheat causing excessive black smoke to “bellow” from the engines exhaust system.

The two government ministers on board were John Byabagambi, Minister of Works and his counterpart Stephen Chebrot (Minister of Transport).

The situation has caused us some interesting press headlines. The headline for an article by Alex Balimwkungu in the New Vision read. “Ministers in ferry fire scare”. As is sometimes the case the actual event is less dramatic than the headline.

What a way to attract readers at our expense, especially considering that there was never a fire.

Fortunately for us the New Vision article explained that the engine-overheating problem was caused by pollution in the lake. The article quoted Minister Byabagambi saying, “that the mishap was a consequence of pollution and environmental degradation around Port Bell. He called for removal of dysfunctional ferries like MV Muvule, which has docked at the pier for ages.”

A couple of weeks ago when Rob Smith was in Uganda he pulled several buckets loads of tangled fishing nets, vegetation and other stuff off the propeller shafts.

As it turns out this potentially harmful event has brought the ports disintegration and poor conditions directly and personally to Ugandan government officials. They are very concerned about cleaning up the port facilities in the interest of helping companies like EarthWise Ferries and others who are attempting to developing trade and commerce around the lake and centered at Port Bell.

Uganda’s First Lady Visits Amani

This past Saturday, June 4th, 2011, the First Lady of Uganda, Janet Kataaha Museveni, visited Amani and the EarthWise Ferries team, at Speke Resort. Rob Smith, CEO of EarthWise Ventures, had this to say about her visit in a post on Facebook:

“Amazing day Saturday! The First Lady of Uganda asked to see the MV Amani, our first ferry launched on Lake Victoria. She is a warm and friendly woman – she was very encouraging and thrilled to see us succeed.”

First Lady with the EarthWise Ferries team at Speke Resort

New Vision, a online Ugandan news source, reported the story.

Commissioning Amani

It will be a night to remember for those who were there. The commissioning of Amani at Speke Resort was a lovely way to honor all of those that have worked so hard and diligently for the last three years to get to this point. Approximately a hundred people showed up the event and were treated to a tour of Amani, a splendid buffet banquet, and a round of speeches from those that have and continue to lead this venture.

We’ll post more pictures of the event as they become available. But for now, here is a very polished Amani at her party.

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A Royal Ceremony for Amani

This Saturday evening at 4pm, Ugandan time (0600 PST), EarthWise Ferries is celebrating the launch of their hallmark motor passenger vessel, Amani, at Speke Resort. Rob Smith, Calvin Echodu and their amazing team will be there to present Amani to Uganda’s President, His Excellency Yoweri Museveni. EarthWise Ferries has been working very hard to have Amani polished and ready for this presentation and from some snapshots I’ve seen she is looking more and more like a real ferry every day.

Look forward to details and pictures of how the event went in the next post!

Matt Basinger visits Amani

In mid-March, Matt Basinger, a Columbia University post-doctoral student and lead for the amazing Shared Solar project , visited Amani and her crew.  Matt’s involvement in EarthWise venture was in part to research and develop the heating and data tracking systems for running SVO, or Straight Vegetable Oil, in diesel engines. And his short visit was his first time to witness how our team has implemented his research.  I caught up with Matt and asked him about his time on the boat.  ”I was really impressed with the system’s setup and loved seeing how certain aspects of my research were used to solve this problem,” Matt said.

Moving Amani to Port Bell

After pushing Amani off the beach and into the water, it was time to move north to Port Bell.  The boys loaded her up with supplies and pushed her out into deep water to meet up with Patricia, our cargo vessel, to fit props and rudders.  Go after the break for more pictures and video of the move up to Port Bell.

Launching Amani: Done.

It has been a gruesome two weeks fraught with many obstacles, but on Monday, February 28th, 2011, at 6:10pm, Amani slid into the waters of Lake Victoria to the cheers of her builders.

Amaniiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!!!!!!!!!

Launching Amani: Bring in the cranes

 

Amani, with new logos and completed exterior paint

Launching Amani has proven a curious challenge.

Thain Boatworks at Center for Wooden Boats!

This Friday, February 18th, at 7pm, employees of Thain Boatworks will be talking at the Center for Wooden Boats about the effort to build, ship, reassemble and launch their first “Ferry in a Box”.  With pictures, videos and a skype call from Rob Smith (who is currently in Uganda), it’s a great excuse to steal down to the floating CWB and enjoy the company of wooden boat enthusiasts.

Click here for more details.