Malawi: The MV Ilala has been withdrawn from Lake Malawi waters for routine maintenance!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MV Ilala, which operates weekly on Lake Malawi between Monkey Bay in the south and Chilumba in the north, has been withdrawn from Lake Malawi waters for routine maintenance by the Malawi Shipping Company.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.

Malawi: New ferry launched on Lake Malawi!

The famous steel-riveted MV Ilala, which was in service on Lake Malawi since 1951, has been replaced by a brandnew ferry. The new vessel, named MV Chilembe, is 32 metres long and 7 metres wide, with two fixed-pitch propellers and two Caterpillar C32 TTA (WOSR) engines rating 2460 bkW (3300 bhp) power. It will carry 120 passengers and 20 tons of cargo, including food and medicines, at a maximum speed of 28 knots. The ferry's twice weekly schedule will call at the remote villages and islands in the north of Lake Malawi, and take only two hours to reach Likoma Island, a journey which previously took over seven hours. The MV Chilembe is operated by privately owned Malawi Shipping Company.