Malawi: The MV Ilala has been withdrawn from Lake Malawi waters for routine maintenance! [update]

update (19 July 2019): We just got the confirmation from the Malawi Shipping Company that the MV Ilala is back in operation since 05 July 2019.

The famous MV Ilala, which operates weekly on Lake Malawi between Monkey Bay in the south and Chilumba in the north, has been withdrawn from Lake Malawi waters for routine maintenance by the Malawi Shipping Company. The maintenance work is expected to be finished by the end of the June 2019. The relatively new MV Chilembe, which is in operation on Lake Malawi since 2014, replaces the MV Ilala during that time. The MV Ilala is the oldest passenger ship on Lake Malawi. The 400 tonne passenger motor ship was built in 1949 and is in operation on the lake since 1951. It has a total capacity of 450 passenger and offers cabin class, first class, second class and economy class facilities as well as bars and restaurants.