Lagoon transport has taken a decisive step towards professionalization. This Friday, at the maritime police headquarters in Treichville, 50 pinasse boat drivers officially received their driver's licenses and certificates of completion. The ceremony also included a significant donation of emergency equipment.

An arsenal for passenger safety

Beyond diplomas, the authorities emphasized material resources by providing the carriers with:

1. 800 life jackets ;
2. 200 fire extinguishers .

This initiative, led by the Directorate General of Maritime Affairs (DGAM) in synergy with AMUGA (Urban Mobility Authority in Greater Abidjan), aims for a clear objective: to transform an artisanal sector into a modern and secure service.

A rigorous 200-hour training course

To obtain this coveted certification, the recipients completed an intensive course of over 200 hours. The program covered the essential pillars of navigation:

1. Mastery of maritime regulations;
2. Maneuvering techniques and signalling;
3. First aid techniques and emergency procedures.

"These certificates represent a responsibility and a moral duty towards the people you are transporting," stressed Colonel-Major Julien Yao Kouassi , Director General of Maritime Affairs, reminding everyone that any serious breach would result in the immediate withdrawal of the permit.

Lagoon transport: A strategic lever for Abidjan

With approximately 200,000 daily passengers and a potential of over 500,000, the lagoon is an essential alternative to land traffic congestion. Romain Kouakou , Director General of AMUGA, emphasized that this training marks the sector's entry into a "new era".

Stéphane Goumanon, representing the Minister Delegate for Maritime Affairs, concluded by urging the new graduates to practice with rigor, recalling that the State's ambition is to build a true culture of maritime safety in Ivory Coast.

This action was made possible thanks to the involvement of the Cooperative Society Union of Lagoon Transporters of Ivory Coast.