Zanzibar Ferry Crew Charged with Murder

Zanzibar Ferry Crew Charged with Murder

Lloyd’s List

The master and 10 other people have been charged with murder after the 800 gt ferry Spice Islander I sank off the coast of Zanzibar last September, killing more than 240 passengers and crew.  According to the authorities, Spice Islander I was carrying more than 800 people when it sank, far exceeding its 600-person capacity.  The defendants include the crew and workers in charge of loading the ferry. Collectively, they face 200 charges of negligence and a murder charge. The master of the vessel fled after the sinking and is still at large.  A government investigation released recently said the vessel, which was built in 1967, was in “dangerous mechanical condition” before the voyage.