It is huge and possibly passing as the ‘Titanic on Lake Victoria,’ but minus the accident.
And even though the authorities are claiming that the biggest ship on Lake Victoria was 96 percent ready, it seems MV Mwanza may actually start operations in June 2025.
At the moment, additional equipment for the passenger carrier, including pieces of onboard furniture are just arriving.
The fitting is expected to commence soon, at least the management says so. The ship stretches to the length of 93 meters.
It is now reported that the vessel handover is expected to take place in the last week of May 2025 or early June.
Also, yet to be accomplished are the ship’s safety inspection and quality certification by the Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation (TASAC), making it certified vessel to be used on Lake Victoria.
The Acting Chief Executive Officer of Tanzania Shipping Company Limited (TASHICO), Amina Ntibampema, however says that the installation of all ship systems, including navigation, engine, and auxiliary machinery, has been accomplished.
A three-day trial on Lake Victoria waters was conducted in March 2024 when it was also reported that the giant ship should be commissioned before April 2025 but now it seems MV Mwanza will not set sail before June and possibly even July 2025.
So far beds, chairs and kitchen shelves are what await to be fixed on the giant Moving Vessel.
The passengers’ compartments on the huge ship are divided into the ordinary wagon (economy), Business Class and the first (VIP) cabin complete with all creature comforts and modern facilities.
MV Mwanza is expected to enhance trade by providing not only reliable but also affordable and efficient transportation for various goods, including agricultural produce and industrial products, across the three East African countries.
Essentially, MV Mwanza was designed to carry 1,200 passengers, 400 tons of cargo, and 20 medium sized vehicles, across Africa’s largest Lake.
Once it sets sail, the ship will serve various destinations on Lake Victoria from its home port of Mwanza.
In total Tanzania has 31 ports operating on the shores of Lake Victoria but MV Mwanza is bound to be making calls on just three or four of them that happen to be the largest.
The major ports in Lake Victoria are the Mwanza South Port and Mwanza North Port.
Both Ports are connected to road and railway in the country and neighboring countries and have many facilities including Weighbridge, Oil tanks, Workshops and Passenger Lounge to support various operations within the Lake
A truly East African vessel, MV Mwanza will transport people and cargo between Mwanza, Bukoba, Musoma, Kemondo, as well as the ports of Kisumu in the neighboring country of Kenya and Port Bells plus the Port of Jinja in Uganda.