113-year-old MV Liemba, one of the world’s oldest passenger vessels, resumes service connecting 4 African countries

According to Tanzania’s Mwananchi newspaper, MV Liemba’s first voyage departed Kigoma in western Tanzania for Kalemie in eastern DRC on October 6, 2026, ending an eight-year suspension caused by worn-out machinery and the need for major repairs.

The vessel underwent a 34 billion Tanzanian shilling ($13.2 million) overhaul before returning to service.

The lake borders four countries: Tanzania, the DRC, Burundi and Zambia. Once its scheduled services are fully operational, MV Liemba is expected to serve ports in all neighbouring countries, extending its reach beyond the Tanzania–DRC route.

Built in Germany in 1913 and launched on Lake Tanganyika in 1915, the ship was originally named Graf von Goetzen. It was scuttled during the First World War in 1916, salvaged by the British in 1924 and returned to service under the name Liemba in 1927.

The rehabilitation was carried out by Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam Merchant Group (DMG) in partnership with Croatia’s Brodosplit JSC. Tanzania’s Treasury Registrar put the project’s cost at approximately $13.19 million.

Simon Chobogo, a resident of Kibirizi in Kigoma-Ujiji, told Mwananchi that the vessel’s return could revive jobs and businesses affected by the suspension of its services.

“This ship will open up economic opportunities that had constrained us. After the ship stopped operating, we lost many traders from the Congo. Resuming voyages will make trade in fish and dried sardines easier and facilitate cargo transport,” he said.

“These are the initial official trips taking place before the launch. We will officially launch later and inform the public when the time comes,” Hamissi said.

The rehabilitation included major repairs intended to restore the vessel’s operational capacity and improve passenger facilities.

For communities around the lake, MV Liemba’s return could ease the movement of food, fish and other goods while giving traders another way to reach markets across national borders. The scale of the economic benefit will depend on how frequently the vessel operates and when its wider regional routes become available.