A project to renovate Africa’s oldest merchant ship and turn it into a floating clinic for half a million people who would otherwise have no access to healthcare has been given a major boost.
A charitable foundation established by Portuguese businessman, Manuel Antonio da Mota, has pledged EUR 2m ($2.7m) which will go a long way towards funding the running costs of the 250-gt Chauncy Maples (built 1899) currently being renovated at a shipyard in Monkey Bay on Lake Malawi.
The Chauncy Maples Malawi Trust was last year adopted by insurance club manager, Thomas Miller, to mark its 125th anniversary as a social useful alternative to having celebratory parties around the world.
The Miller management company donated £250,000 ($390,000) with its mutuals such as the UK Club, TT Club, Hellenic War Risks, UK Defence Club and ITIC donating further amounts. Diana Shipping, Marfin and other shipping groups, various law, accountancy firms as well as insurance brokers and Lloyd’s syndicates have lifted the amount from the “Miller community” to £800,000.
Malawi is the fifth poorest country in the world with only 250 doctors for a population of 16m.
People living around the 30,000 sq km Lake Malawi will get primary health care from the Chauncy Maples which will berth at a different settlement each day providing treatment and preventive advice about problems that include malaria, tuberculosis, bilharzias and HIV/AIDS.
The Chauncy Maples named after a bishop who drowned on Lake Malawi was built as an mission ship in Glasgow and then dismantled into 3,481 parts so it could barged up the Zambezi and Shire rivers before being carried overland for 100 miles by local tribesmen. The 11 ton boiler was dragged on a cart for 350 miles.
The galvanised vessel has survived in remarkably good condition in a fresh water environment and has had a varied career that included being a gunboat, trawler, ferry and most recently a bar.
Part of the original plating is now being renewed in Mota-Engil’s Monkey Bay yard and it is estimated the vessel might have another 100 years life once back in service. But further marine equipment to finish the renovation needs to be begged or at least bought at a discount to complete the work.
“The Mota Foundation support answers the primary concern of donors, namely how the operation of the ship will be funded once the renovation is complete. This wonderful pledge provides an excellent springboard, which will enable us to raise enough money to run the ship as a clinic for at least 20 years,” said Thomas Miller director Mark Holford who heads the Chauncy Maples fundraising drive.
