By Staff Writer
KIGOMA — Minister for Transport Prof. Makame Mbarawa on Saturday praised Dar-es Salaam Merchant Group (DMG) as newly installed engines powered MV Liemba during the first phase of technical trials on Lake Tanganyika.
Speaking on board the 111-year-old vessel, Mbarawa said the TSh 34 billion overhaul by the 100% Tanzanian company has proven local capacity and ended an 8-year wait for reliable lake transport in the western regions.
"Today I can tell the nation: MV Liemba is complete. And it was done by Tanzanian hands," Mbarawa told engineers and journalists. "This project shows that when we trust our local contractors, they can deliver."
The horn of MV Liemba echoed across Lake Tanganyika again for the first time since 2017, marking the start of what the government calls "50 years of new voyages" ahead of commercial operations on September 1st.
The rehabilitation, fully funded by the government, is now 97% complete.
Mbarawa said trials are being conducted in two phases to ensure the vessel meets both national and international safety standards.
"The first phase of trials was conducted yesterday. This was to test the basic systems after installation of new machinery," he said. "The final and more comprehensive phase will take place between August 19 and 21 this year. The objective is to thoroughly test all critical systems before we allow the ship to start carrying passengers and cargo."
"MV Liemba is designed to serve for 50 years," Mbarawa added. "With proper and regular maintenance, it can last for more than 80 years. We cannot compromise on safety."
Once the contractor-led trials are complete, the Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation (TASAC) will conduct its own inspection and verification.
"The issue of MV Liemba troubled us most in Parliament," Mbarawa said. "Members of Parliament from Kigoma, Rukwa and Katavi kept asking: when will Liemba return? It will remove the transport burden for residents of the three regions and improve trade with our neighbors."
Erick Hamis, Managing Director of the Tanzania Shipping Company (TASHICO), said the project balanced modernization with preservation.
"This is now a new Liemba," Hamis said. "We have restored the original wooden fittings to maintain the historical character of the ship. At the same time, we have installed new equipment. The generators are new. The engines are new. The electrical systems and navigation equipment are all new."
DMG Director Rayton Kwembe said the project was a demonstration of local engineering capacity.
"When we were awarded this contract, many people doubted whether a local company could handle a vessel of this history and magnitude," Kwembe said. "Today we have proven that Tanzanians can do it."
Kwembe said the work involved replacing all propulsion machinery, including main engines and generators, and completely refurbishing all passenger areas.
"MV Liemba is a historical ship. You cannot just remove everything and replace it with steel," he said. "On the lower deck, we carefully removed the old timber and replaced it with new hardwood, cut and fitted in the same style. So when you walk inside, you still feel the history."
"We did everything while protecting the heritage of MV Liemba," Kwembe said. "But underneath, every pipe, every wire, every engine is brand new."
He added that over 300 Tanzanians were employed during the two-year rehabilitation, including youth from Kigoma who received training in welding, electrical work, and marine carpentry.
"This was not just about repairing a ship," he said. "It was about transferring skills. Today we have Tanzanian engineers who can now do this kind of work without going abroad."
For residents of Kigoma, Rukwa and Katavi, the ship’s return could not have come at a better time.
"When Liemba stopped, life became hard," said Musa Tulikubili, a trader from Kigoma. "To take maize or fish to market, we had to use small boats that charge a lot and sometimes capsize. Now with Liemba coming back, we can transport more goods at a lower cost and in safety."
Once in full service, MV Liemba will carry approximately 600 passengers and 200 tonnes of cargo per trip.
New radar, GPS, and radio communication systems have been installed to meet international safety standards.
The ship will operate scheduled routes to Bujumbura in Burundi, Kalemie and Uvira in DRC, and Mpulungu in Zambia.
Mbarawa also inspected ongoing expansion works at Kigoma Port, including a new passenger berthing area and a shipyard.
"The government is committed to opening up Kigoma Region and turning it into a center of business," he said. "With a working port, a working shipyard, and a working ship, Kigoma can become the gateway for trade in this part of Africa."
With the first phase of trials complete, all eyes are now on the final tests scheduled for August 19-21. If successful and TASAC gives approval, MV Liemba will begin scheduled service on September 1st.
"This is not just the relaunch of a ship. This is the relaunch of a region. This is the relaunch of hope for the people of Lake Tanganyika," Mbarawa concluded.
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