MV Chauncy Maples

This article is about the ship. For the Anglican missionary and sixth Bishop of Nyasaland, see Chauncy Maples.

The SS Chauncy Maples, decorated with festoons and carrying dignitaries, celebrates fifty years of service on Lake Nyasa.
History
Nyasaland, Malawi
NameSS Chauncy Maples (until 1967), MV Chauncy Maples (1967–present)
OwnerUniversities’ Mission to Central Africa (until 1953); Government of Malawi (1953 onwards)
OperatorUniversities' Mission to Central Africa (until 1953); Government of Malawi (1953–67); Malawi Railways (1967–92)
Ordered1898
BuilderAlley & McClellan, Polmadie, Scotland
Cost£13,500
Launched1901
Maiden voyage1901
In service1901
Out of service1992
FateLaid up
General characteristics
Tonnage150 tons
Displacement250 tons
Length38 m (126 ft)
Beam6.1 m (20 ft)
Draught2.0 m (6+1⁄2 ft)
Installed powerSteam engine (until 1967), 330 BHP 6-cylinder Crossley diesel engine (1967 onwards)[1]
PropulsionSingle screw propeller
Crew10 (as motor vessel)

MV Chauncy Maples is a motor ship and former steamship that was launched in 1901 as SS Chauncy Maples. She spent her entire career on Lake Malawi (formerly more widely known as Lake Nyasa) and was regarded as the oldest ship afloat in Africa.[2] After more than one hundred years' service it was intended to restore her for use as a floating medical clinic to support the several million lakeshore dwellers whose average life expectancy is 44 years. The Government of Malawi offered support for this in 2009 and charity fundraising was sufficient to make progress. The hull was found to be beyond repair at a viable cost so a more practical modern craft was proposed to give ambulance service around the lake.

  1. ^ "The Ship". Chauncy Maples, Lake Malawi's Clinic. Chauncy Maples Trust. 2009–2011. Archived from the original on 16 March 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  2. ^ "Chauncy Maples Malawi Trust: The Story". Chauncymaples.org. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 3 October 2017.