1.
GV HOVERCRAFT CARRYING VIPS ENTERS WATER
0.13

2.
CU ZOOM OUT..HOVER-CRAFT TURNS AND BEGINS DEMONSTRATION
0.25

3.
SV ONLOOKERS
0.29

4.
LV & SV HOVERCRAFT
0.40

5.
LV ONLOOKERS
0.41

6.
LV HOVERCRAFT PAST
0.46

7.
CU ONLOOKERS
0.49

8.
SV ZOOM TO LV.. HOVERCRAFT LANDS
0.57

9.
SV MR KADJI STEPS OFF HOVERCRAFT
1.02

10.
SV OTHER PERSONALITIES OFF HOVERCRAFT
1.06

11.
MV MR. KADJI TALKS TO REPORTER SOF
1.58

12.
SV BRITISH AMBASSADOR TALKS TO REPORTER SOF
2.10


TRANSCRIPT:



REPORTER: "COULD THE HOVERCRAFT BE OF USE IN THE IVORY COAST ?"



MR KADJI: "YES, IT CAN, BUT THE PROBLEM FOR US IS THAT IS EXPENSIVE."



REPORTER: "WOULD IT INTEREST THE TOURIST ADMINISTRATION ?"



MR KADJI: "I DON'T HANDLE TOURISM, BUT YES, I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE OF INTEREST FOR TOURISM IN THE IVORY COAST."



REPORTER: "WERE YOU HAPPY WITH YOUR RIDE TODAY ?"



MR KADJI: "I WAS VERY SATISFIED, ESPECIALLY WITH THE WAY THIS MOTORISED MONSTER FLIES AND SHOOTS OUT CLOUDS OF SPRAY AND DUST. IT IS TRULY AMAZING."



THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR, MR CHEKE. WAS THEN ASKED ABOUT THE COMMERCIAL POSSIBILITIES OF THE HOVERCRAFT IN THE IVORY COAST:



REPORTER: "MR AMBASSADOR, WHAT ARE THE HANCES OF A SALE ?"



MR CHEKE: "IT IS NOT FOR ME TO SAY, BUT I AM SURE THAT MUCH WILL DEPEND ON THE TRIALS WE ARE HAVING THIS WEEK."



REPORTER: "THANK YOU SIR."




Initials CG/V/BOB/ES



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: A BRITISH SRN-6 HOVERCRAFT, CURRENTLY TOURING AFRICA, GAVE A DEMONSTRATION IN ABIDJAN ON MONDAY FOR TOP IVORY COAST OFFICIALS.

AMONG THE PARTY WHO BOARDED THE HOVERCRAFT FOR A TRIAL RUN AROUND EBRIE LAGOON, ABIDJAN, WERE MR. GRAH KADJI, IVORY COAST MINISTER OF TRANSPORT, AND BRITISH AMBASSADOR, MR. DUDLEY JOHN CHEKE.

THE HOVERCRAFT ARRIVED IN THE IVORY COAST ON FRIDAY AFTER AN AFRICAN JOURNEY OF MORE THAN 5,000 MILES (8,000 KM), BEGINNING AT SAINT LOUIS, SENEGAL, AND CALLING AT MALI, NIGER, NIGERIA, CAMEROUN, THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC AND CONGO-KINSHASA.

DURING THE JOURNEY BRITISH, FRENCH, AMERICAN AND UNITED NATIONS SCIENTIST STUDIED RIVER NAVIGATION, AGRICULTURE, FLORA AND PROBLEMS CONCERNING YELLOW FEVER, MALARIA AND OTHER DISEASES. MANUFACTURERS OF THE SRN-6 ARE ALSO EXPLORING SALES POSSIBILITIES THROUGHOUT AFRICA FOR THEIR CRAFT, WHICH, BEING ABLE TO OPERATE OVER LAND AND WATER, IS PARTICULARLY SUITABLE FOR AFRICAN CONDITIONS.

WHILE IN ABIDJAN, THE HOVERCRAFT WILL BE DEMONSTRATED TO OFFICER OF THE IVORY COAST ARMY TO UNDERLINE ITS MILITARY POTENTIAL.

AFTER HIS TRIAL RIDE, MR KADJI WAS ASKED WHAT HE THOUGHT OF THE HOVERCRAFT: