Aline-Sitoe-Diatta Ship Details and Seafarer Feedback

On March 16, 2020, a French national suspected of having contracted the coronavirus was confirmed negative following tests conducted by the esteemed Pasteur Institute. The testing took place on the 'Aline Sitoé Diatta,' a ferry docked at Dakar Autonomous Port. In an abundance of caution, the entire crew aboard the vessel was placed under confinement as a precautionary measure to ensure public health and safety.

On March 16, 2020, the 'Aline Sitoé Diatta' docked in Dakar after its journey from Ziguinchor, but the disembarkation of passengers was halted due to a potential coronavirus case linked to a young French passenger. Health authorities acted swiftly, conducting tests on all 300 individuals aboard the vessel. The French man, along with seven cabin mates, was isolated in their shared quarters as a precautionary measure. In addition to the travelers, the ship was staffed with 42 crew members, along with two police officers and two gendarmes ensuring security on board.

In a dramatic maritime rescue operation on September 7, 2018, the ferry Aline Sitoé Diatta played a crucial role in saving three castaways after their trawler capsized between the mouth of the Casamance River and the Atlantic Ocean. The incident occurred in the early hours when the vessel, carrying 15 fishermen from Dakar, encountered distress at sea. While en route to the river's mouth, the crew of the Aline Sitoé Diatta spotted the stranded individuals. This heroic act delayed the ferry's scheduled docking time at Ziguinchor, which typically occurs between 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. After the rescue, the three survivors were promptly taken to local health facilities in the Commune for medical evaluation. Meanwhile, search and rescue efforts continued in hopes of locating the remaining fishermen, with reports indicating that 12 individuals remained missing following the capsizing. Details about the cause of the tragic accident are still unclear, but our sources confirm that the Aline Sitoé Diatta successfully retrieved three of the trawler's occupants. As of the time of this report, the ferry remained in the waters of the Casamance River, further indicating its commitment to ensuring the safety of those in distress.