By Bill Ogle
In this new series of articles, we will introduce a one-page article about a particular ship. She may be well known, or totally unremarkable. She may be of any nationality and function. In this case we begin with the film African Queen:
The film depicts the attempted attack on a German gunboat named Königin Luise. Although fictional, she was inspired by the Graf Goetzen which operated on the lake until she was scuttled in 1916 during the Battle for Lake Tanganyika.
| Pictured a century apart; as ss Graf Goetzen in 1915 and mv Liemba in 2015 |
The Liemba started life as the Graf Goetzen in 1913 when she was built as a
passenger/cargo ferry by Meyer-Werft in Papenburg on the River Ems in northern Germany. One of three such vessels to operate on Lake Tanganyika in conjunction with the East African Railway Company. After initial assembly she was taken apart, packed in 5,000 crates, shipped to Dar es Salaam on three cargo ships and then transported some 1,500km by rail to Kigoma on the lake, where she was re-assembled and launched on 5 February 1915.
Originally Graf Goetzen had seven first class single cabins, five second class double cabins together with First and Second class dining and smoking rooms.. Her crew numbered 64.
On the outbreak of war she was commandeered by the German navy and fitted with a 4in and a 3in gun. She gave Germany complete control of the lake although her primary role was as a troop transport. To regain control of the lake themselves the Royal Navy shipped two armed motor boats via Belgian Congo which were able to sink the other German ships. Unable to protect their last ship she was scuttled in July 1916
Refloated by the British who placed her in service on Lake Tanganyika in 1927 as the passenger ferry MV Liemba, she has operated since then. In 1976 she was given a major overhaul; twin diesel engines replaced the original steam plant. Again in 1997 she received new MAN engines of 620hp each and a new deckhouse.
In January 2020 she was reported as being under repair, and in October 2021 that she was not running. One probable cause being reducing water levels at Kigoma pier.
A sad ending for one of the world’s oldest operating passenger vessels
Addendum:
Boarding the MV Liemba on Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania – YouTube
