THE Tanzania Shipping Company Limited (TASHICO) is expecting to spend a total of 4bn/- to facilitate a timely project for the improvement of transport services at Lake Nyasa.

The initiative, drafted to commence from earlier next month incorporate rehabilitation of MV Songea, a  large passangers carrier vessel at Lake Nyasa.

With capacity to carry at least 212 passangers at a go, the vessel which used to sail to Mbaba bay from Kiwira stalled operations since 2017 due to dilapidated of it vital facilities, propelled to lowering of transportation services at the famous lake mapped at the country's  south-west.

The Managing Director (MD) of TASHICO, Eric Hamissi told the publication in an interview at the ongoing National Service Week that during 2025/26 fiscal year, the state- owned marine transport services company has set aside 4bn/- to ensure the vessel is repaired to the tune of reverting operations.

He briefed, suspension of MV Songea services saw passangers at Nyasa lake served by only one vessel, MV Mbeya II, thus necessited for timely rehabilitation of the vessel.

"If all goes well, works for the repair of the ship will commence from earlier next month. We're currently working on evaluation of the vessel to identify the specification of the needed repair, and we will thereafter search for a professional company to undertake the repair," MD Hamissi expressed.

He added, MV Songea has been designed in a technician manner to fit with the high tides of Lake Nyasa, saying it revival will play meaningful role to advance transport services at the lake.

Apart from passangers, he expressed, Lake Nyasa is also served with two  cargo ferries, each with capacity to harbour 1000 tons of cargo.

"The ships that transports cargos from Tanzania to neighboring countries of Malawi and Mozambique include MV Njombe and MV Ruvuma," he unveiled.

He said TASHICO is  currently running an array of initiatives to ensure for vast availability and accessibility of transportation services at all great lakes in the country.

For instance, according to him, a total of 171bn/- has been set aside in the financial year 2025/26 to support finalization of diverse projects which started during the past fiscal year, as well as implementing new projects with an eye to improve performance of marine transport services in the country.

"Plans are also afoot to construct four tug boats, to serve at all great lakes in the country," he added.

The TASHICO chief boss expressed to have been delight to the way President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been injecting the company with enough annual budgets, the development which has enabled it to accomplish key projects in a finished manner.

On his side, apart from hailing President Samia, chairman of TASHICO's board of directors, Retired Major General John Mbungo, attributed the major success at the company to a smooth working cooperation between the company's management, staff as well as board of directors.

With the ongoing major reshuffle, he expressed high optimism that the company will attain impressive milestones in elevating the country's marine transport in a near future.

Records depict that in 2015, the company was at it last breath, whereby nearly all ships were dilapidated.

However the government - marine service entity came to it rescure in 2017, following move by the government to  pick the new director, and formation of the company's board of directors in 2020.

The development resulted into signing of different contracts in 2018,  for the rehabilitation and construction of new vessels.

These, includes contract for the repair of MV Victoria and MV Butiama, contract for the construction of MV Mwanza as well as contract for the installation of a major sleep way dock in Mwanza.

The company is currently owning a total of 18 vessels, out of which four are active, and the others are set for major rehabilitations.

TASHICO is a government - owned entity based in Mwanza, Tanzania , specializing in marine transport services across the Grate Lakes, including Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika and Lake Nyasa.