114-year-old ship to serve as medical clinic on Lake Malawi

The English charity, Chauncy Maples Malawi Trust, is renovating Africa’s oldest motor ship, the Chauncy Maples, into a mobile clinic on Lake Malawi. So far, the superstructure has been removed and the hull plating repaired. The installation of the piping and liquid systems is under way. The renovation is taking place in the shipyard in Monkey Bay at the southern end Lake Malawi - a facility owned by the Malawi Shipping Company. It is a subsidiary of Portugal’s Mota Engil which, during the next 10 years, will provide €2.75 million through its associated charity towards the technical running costs of Chauncy Maples. Moored on Lake Malawi, the one-time steamer Chauncy Maples was built in Glasgow in 1899. Designed as a missionary ship, she has not sailed for two decades. As a mobile healthcare clinic, the on-board nursing team will provide treatment for diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, measles and HIV/AIDS. Other vital services will include ante-natal and maternity care, simple procedures, dental care, child immunisation, family-planning and advice on safe sex. The renovation is expected to be completed by the end of 2014.