MV Ilala:
75 Years Serving Lake Malawi

Share your memories of the MV Ilala

2026 marks 75 years since the MV Ilala entered service on Lake Malawi — and we would like to hear from you.

Built by Yarrow Shipbuilders in Scotstoun in 1949, shipped in sections to Malawi and launched in 1951, the Ilala has spent three-quarters of a century crossing the lake carrying passengers and freight.

To mark the anniversary, a University of Strathclyde project is gathering public memories of the Ilala — and we are inviting anyone who has travelled, worked aboard, waited for, or simply watched the Ilala pass by, to contribute.

What we are looking for

There are no set questions. Write as much or as little as you like — a paragraph or several pages.

You might tell us about:

a particular voyage, and where you were going
the ports and places you passed through
the people you met on board or the crew
what the ship meant to your experiences, family, work, or community
how the Ilala, the lake, or the journey has changed over the years

We also welcome photographs and other material — tickets, postcards, letters, sketches, cuttings — connected to the ferry.

How to take part

Submissions can be made:

Through our online survey form:

https://hass.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_byHY9g9N9OObZCS

By email to david.wilson.101@strath.ac.uk.

Submissions are open from 1 September 2026 until 31 October 2026.

Before submitting, please read the Participant Information Sheet, which explains in full how your contribution will be used and stored. Please note that if you are submitting via email, you will be requested to sign a consent form.

Who can take part?

Anyone aged 16 or over. Participation is entirely voluntary.

What happens to your contribution?

Contributions will be used in blog posts and shortform articles that will be publicly available.

These will also be shared through a freely accessible online archive and StoryMap charting the ship's history on our dedicated website.

Your name, your choice. This is a project about celebrating and recording people's memories, so contributors are welcome to be credited by name. You may also choose to remain anonymous, and we will remove identifying details from anything we publish. The choice is yours, and you make it when you submit.
You keep your photographs. You retain ownership of any images you send. Please only submit photographs that are yours, or that you have permission to share.
You can change your mind. You may ask us to remove your material from the online archive at any time.
Please share only what you are content to see published. Please note that contributions may be shortened or lightly edited.

Questions?

Contact Dr David Wilson, Department of Humanities, University of Strathclyde — david.wilson.101@strath.ac.uk

Image Credits: