By Staff Writer, Kigoma
THE government has officially handed over MV Liemba, the oldest “operating” passenger ship in the world to Croatian-based firm M/S Brodosplit JSC and Dar es Salaam Merchant Group (DMG) to undergo major repairs to the only ship of the German Imperial Navy that is still actively in operation for the cost of over 33bn/-.
The vessel that can carry 200 tonnes and 600 passengers sailing between Kigoma, Tanzania and Mpulungu, Zambia, since 1915, will be renovated for two years, from July 2024 to July 2026.
During the handing-over ceremony, Kigoma District Commissioner (DC), Salum Kalli called on the contractors to complete the repair project on time as stipulated in the contract.
“It was definitely a dream but now it is true, the people of Kigoma and Tanzanians in general are happy to hear this good news that the repair of our ship, MV Liemba is officially starting," said DC Kalli.
On his part, Dar es Salaam Merchant Group (DMG), Rayton Kwembe has promised to work promptly to go along with the time set in the contract which is twenty-four months.
"We promise high-quality repair, which we are doing in collaboration with the main contractor from Croatia, M/S Brodosplit JSC at a cost of more than 33bn/-,"
Kwembe added: "We are very grateful to the sixth phase government under President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan for continuing to believe in us and we promise the Government that we will never let them down in the implementation of this project."
He emphasized by saying, "We will do our best to ensure that this repair project will be carried out promptly so that this ship, which is specialized in the transportation of cargo and passengers, returns its new look after renovation."
The DMG Boss pointed out that their company has long-term experience and expertise in participating in large-scale projects involving ship maintenance and construction from the initial stage to completion.
He noted: "DMG Company has good relationships with financial institutions where these relationships help us get the funds at the right time when are needed to help our projects go ahead as planned."
He emphasized: "To effectively implement shipbuilding projects and their maintenance, DMG established a Department to deal with these matters at the beginning of 2017 to solve the challenges facing this sector in the blue economy by bringing development.
Allen Mtembelo, speaking on behalf of the CEO of the Shipping Services Company (Mscl), said: "Contractors are already there and they are ready to start this project to repair Mv Liemba."
Commenting, M/S Brodosplit JSC Managing Director Radovan Nacinovic has also pledged to adhere time framework at this time when they have commenced implementing the project.
“We thank you for this opportunity, and we are going to do our best to complete in the best of the time, we will try to finish the project even before the timeframe,” he said.
Speaking during the handover ceremony of the ship, the Project Manager Engineer Elias John Kivala said: "On behalf of the government, we are asking you to complete this project on time, and we are asking you to do a fast track and the government has agreed to allow the project working for 24 hours.”
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