Watch: Tanzania Uncovers The Largest Ship In The Great Lakes Region Called MV Mwanza

In the Republic of Tanzania on 13 February, unveiled and floated a locally built cargo and passenger vessel on the port of Lake Victoria, Mwanza’s north-western city.

The vessel MV Mwanza, which per the government, is the greatest in the Great Lakes region of Victoria, Tanganyika, and Nyasa, is expected to streamline transport between East African nations that are known to be sharing Lake Victoria.

The ship measures 92.6 meters in length. It can host 1,200 guests and be loaded with 400 tons of cargo and 20 vehicles. It is being constructed for 109 billion Tanzanian shillings ($46.6m; £38.6m) and is about 82% done.

Talking at the event to land the vessel ashore, the Permanent Secretary associated with the Ministry of Works and Transport of Tanzania, Gabriel Migire, said that the building of the ship was an initiative to help enhance trade between the bordering lake and regions.

Rasmi MV Mwanza “Hapa Kazi Tu” yawekwa majini katika Ziwa Victoria.

Meli hii kubwa ina uweza wa kubeba abiria 1,200 na tani 400 za mzigo. Ujenzi wa meli hii umefikia 80%. Itadumu kwa miaka 50.#KaziIendelee pic.twitter.com/3I966cM0Ny

— Gerson Msigwa (@MsigwaGerson) February 12, 2023

Gerson Msigwa, a spokesperson, said it is expected to last 50 years.

Besides sailing between Bukoba and Mwanza, the vessel will be ferrying guests and goods to neighbouring nations of Uganda at Port Bell and Jinja in Kenya to dock at the Kisumu Port.

Construction of the vessel is part of the governmental efforts to transform marine transport as mentioned in the National Five-Year Development Plan (2021/22 to 2025/26).

In this plan, the government has envisioned expanding the basic economic infrastructure (networks of marine, surface, and air transport; water and power).

References: Mazima, Sebamala