(25 Aug 2017) LEAD IN:
The daily commute in Ivory Coast's most crowded city is being made easier by an increase in ferry companies.
The expansion is backed by a Presidential infrastructure project to control urban congestion in Abidjan.

STORY-LINE:
Ivory Coast's commuters have long been accustomed to hot and tiring daily commutes. Traffic gridlock, crammed buses and choking pollution have all added to the agony.
The economic capital of Abidjan, with close to 5 million people, is one of West Africa's largest and is divided by lagoons. It has been growing rapidly, but its rail and road infrastructure has failed to keep pace.
Ferries across the lagoons offer a comfortable alternative to the traffic jams and now competition between ferry companies is hotting up.
The boats have a range of facilities including air conditioning, cafeterias and business lounges.
For many, this is a good way to ensure you get to work on time and beat the jams.
Ferries aren't exactly new here. One company has been operating since the early 1980s.
But two new companies have just begun operating, meaning five now compete to attract passengers.
Commuters are optimistic that things can only get better.
"I am often late for work, but slowly but surely things are improving. I think these two new (ferry) companies aren't fully set up yet, but within a couple of months this boat service will be sweet," says one ferry passenger, Blaise N'Guessan.
The ferry expansion has been backed by a presidential infrastructure project to control urban congestion in the country's economic hub.
Aqualines is the latest ferry company to enter the market. Its largest ferry seats hundreds.
Another company, STL, had its new shallow draught boats built in Poland by a Dutch shipbuilder. 16 were supplied to Ivory Coast.
They draw only one metre in the water, making them ideal for the shallow lagoon crossings.
Aqualines Operations Manager, Roland Garnier, says his company entered the market to tackle a major transport problem for people in Abidjan:
"Our boss, Zoumana Bakayoko, wanted to help improve their daily lives, improve the ease of getting about by setting up a new lagoon transport service. We are using a 27 metre long boat with 240 seats and also small faster boats ranging from 25 to 80 seaters," he says.
He adds that another advantage of travelling by ferry is that the journey time is always the same since traffic congestion is not an issue. Aqualines' larger ferries travel at around 22 kilometres per hour.
There are various classes of Aqualines ferries to choose from with differing levels of facilities inside.
"A ticket on a non air-conditioned ferry costs 250 CFA franc ($0.45 US Dollar), and goes up as a result of the class you choose. We have boats with aircon, boats without and also business class boats," explains Garnier.
The interiors of the most plush ferries resemble an aircraft with comfy aeroplane-style seats, bars, kitchens and toilets.
But along with the added comfort it's the faster travel which is delighting passengers.
"We are happy with the speed which means we can get to work on time, no problem," says one passenger, Major Gueihi.
Some ferry routes are only short hops, taking under ten minutes. These generally see a regular flow of passengers.
The ferries were used to transport athletes to venues during last month's Francophone Games hosted by Abidjan.


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