Port authority targets increased efficiency

Dar Port

Tanzania Port Authority (TPA) is targeting to increase the port’s cargo handling efficient by moving more containers in this fiscal year.

According to the Ministry of Transport 2012/13 budget speech, TPA plans to handle 12.65 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of general cargo, an increase of almost five per cent from 12.1mtpa last financial year.

Also the speech shows that the ports—Dar es Salaam, Tanga and Mtwara—target to handle a total of 576,300 Twenty foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) from 530,089 TEUs moved in 2011/12. 

The Minister for Transport, Dr Harrison Mwakyembe, attributed the increases in containers handling to rehabilitation at berth eight where a rail line for supporting ship to shore gantry crane.

“TICTS (Tanzania International Containers Terminal Services) are finalizing the construction of the rail line…the construction expects to be completed by November 2012,” said Dr Mwakyembe in his budget speech.

TICTS targets to increase its share of containers handled by 14,700 TEUs from 357,105TEUs of last fiscal year to 406,300 TEUs projected in 2012/13, an increment of about 9 per cent.

Despite targeting to increase the volume of cargo handled per year, the ports have failed to cope with rising cargoes where containers business is estimated to grow at an average 19 per cent yearly.

To increase efficient at Dar es Salaam port further the minister said railway system to transport containers from port to the Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Ubungo.

Also the ministry’s budget showed that a total of 1500 hectares have been set aside for Bagamoyo port which a feasibility indicating the project is viable and good.

The Bagamoyo port designed to handle third generation ships that have capacity of carrying between 7,000 and 8,000 containers at a go but needs a berth with 14 metres deep.

Similarly to construct Bagamoyo port, TPA will in this fiscal year construct four berths at Mtwara Port alongside expanding Dar es Salaam Port by construction of new berths 13 and 14.

The authority plans to spend 485.4bn/- of which 19.6 per cent comes from the authority's revenue and the rest from grants, loans and private sector.

Meanwhile, under TPA’s port master plan, the authority is planning to build a cargo freight centre at Kisarawe in Coast region to ease congestion at Dar port.

Source: The Daily News,http://www.dailynews.co.tz, reported by Abduel Elinaza

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