Tanzania has launched East Africa’s largest freshwater passenger and cargo vessel ever domestically built, MV Mwanza Hapa Kazi Tu, at Lake Victoria.
Launched at Mwanza South Harbor on February 12, the vessel can carry 1,200 passengers, 400 tons of cargo, 20 small cars and 3 trucks. We are now 82% complete.
Eric Hamissi, CEO of Tanzanian marine services company Limited, said: “At the time of departure, the vessel was complete, with the remaining 18% being small installations that will take place within four months. I can say
According to Hamissi, next steps will include interior finishes such as paint, repairs to air conditioners, beds and toilets, and installation of navigation equipment. ship cost
Construction of the vessel began in January 2019 and was led by her two South Korean companies, Gas Entec and her KangNam Corporation. At 92.6 meters long, 17 meters wide and 20 meters high, the vessel will cost taxpayers more than her Tsh 100 billion (US$43 million).
“So far, the contractor has received more than $93.8 billion from the government, and the rest will be paid when he finishes his work,” Hamish said.
When completed, the ship will weigh 3,500 tons.
Web design
MV Mwanza’s designs include an elevator her area for the disabled, a clinic providing healthcare services, a nightclub and a facility for music bands to entertain passengers. The vessel will sail Lake Victoria and provide important transport and trade networks between Jinja and Port Vell in Uganda, Kisumu in Kenya, Mwanza, Bukoba, Kemond and Musoma in Tanzania.
The ship has a VVIP area for domestic guides and regular VIP facilities including first class for 60 people, business class for 100 people and second class for 200 people.
“Finally is the Economy Class, which carries 834 passengers, in which passengers can enjoy a modern atmosphere with maximum relaxation and travel in comfort,” said Hamissi. .
stimulate economic growth
The Tanzanian government expects the ship to spur economic growth, especially after the completion of the Dar es Salaam to Mwanza rail project (SGR) in 2026.
Atupele Mwakibete, Tanzania’s Deputy Minister of Labor and Transport, said the ship will “open up new markets both domestically and internationally by launching new voyages that will help promote trade, business and tourism, … It helps make it easier,” he said. In Tanzania, we also refurbish cargo vessels MV Umoja, petroleum product carriers MT Nyangumi and MT Ukerewe.
Large companies
Kenya has officially reopened the refurbished MV Uhuru 1 in May 2021 after the project has stalled for more than 15 years.
Since resuming operations, MV Uhuru with a capacity of 1,260 tons has transported more than 50 million liters of petroleum products.
Uhuru’s success prompted the government to order a new vessel, MV Uhuru II, from Kenya Shipyards (KSL) in Kisumu.
At 1,800 tons and 100 meters long, it is estimated that in one voyage she can transport 2 million liters of crude oil and is the first vessel built by Kenyans in Kenya. Dutch Damen Damen Construction Company, which operates shipyards in South Africa and Egypt, provided advisory services during the construction of the vessel.
The Shash 2.4 billion (US$19.2 million) vessel MV Uhuru II is scheduled to be launched in August 2022 and commissioned in May 2023.
KSL won her six new shipbuilding orders from Tanzania and Uganda, plus her 11 orders from local companies.
Uganda also shipped its first cargo of fuel from Kisumu port in December 2022 on the newly launched tanker Kabaka Mutebi 11.
water transport corridor
Her 4.5 million liters of fuel transported on this ship marked the revitalization of the shipping corridor between Kenya and Uganda. MV Mwanza is expected to further boost the booming trade in Africa’s Great Lakes.
In an interview with The Independent of Uganda, deputy field service officer Jeffrey Baramaga said, “When the ships are full, fuel prices will drop, which will lead to fair commodity prices in the country.”
A cubic meter (1,000 liters) of fuel currently costs her US$40 to transport to Uganda by road, but up to US$25 by ship.
In 2021, the Government of Uganda has also commissioned the transportation of petroleum products aboard MV Kaawa from Mwanza, Tanzania to Port Vell, Kampala. Uganda’s Mahathi Infra Uganda Ltd is building three more vessels.
In 2019, at the Joint Ministerial Meeting on the Strategy of the Lake Victoria Integrated Transport Programme, the East African Community revealed that Lake Victoria’s transport infrastructure could generate $60 billion worth of trade per year, but currently Only about $6 billion. It will be realized by uniting the three countries.