Stakeholders hail government for improved efficiency at Dar port

DAR ES SALAAM: Players in the port and shipping industry have showered praises on improved efficiency at the Dar es Salaam port which they attribute to the entry of private operators DP World and Tanzania East Africa Gateway Terminal Limited (TEAGTL).

Speaking in exclusive interviews, the port stakeholders said the new operators have not only invested in technology and equipment but have also boosted Tanzania’s confidence in maritime industry by attracting more consignments.

The President of Tanzania Freight Forwarders Association (TAFFA), Mr Edward Urio, (pictured) noted that by having top class operators, Tanzania has all it takes to attract more consignments from across the world.

“Our target as stakeholders was to receive 30 million tonnes of cargo by the year 2028 but as we speak, the volume of cargo handled by Dar port has reached 27.7 million tonnes. With current pace the volume could jump further close to 50 million tonnes,” he asserted.

Mr Urio noted further that TAFFA was in support of including private operators in running the port leaving the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) to remain with its role as a landlord.

“We all witness how services have improved at Dar port leading to docking of more vessels and eventually more shipments”, he explained.

According to available records, the volume of cargo handled at the Dar es Salaam port increased from 23.69 million tonnes in 2023 to 27.76 million tonnes in 2024. Likewise, the number of ships which docked at the harbour during the period under review increased from 1,860 to 1,990, she observed.

In a separate interview, the Chairman of Tanzania Shipping Agents Association (TASAA), Mr Daniel Malongo, echoed sentiments made by Taffa president.

“Our association supported the move from the beginning and we are now yielding fruits of efficiency. The only remaining challenge at the port is limited space”, he pointed out.

He was however confident that the planned construction of five new berths at the port and the newly completed Kwala dry port in the Coast region will add more space for handling cargo at the port.

“Kwala dry port alone has the capacity of handling 8,000 per day as such this facility will play an important role in addressing the challenge of limited space at Dar port.

Mr Malongo commended TPA and Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) for putting in place required systems and technology to allow clearance of cargo.

“What remains is for TRC (Tanzania Railway Corporation) to be empowered financially to acquire more locomotives to move shipments from the port to Kwala dry port”, he urged.

He hailed TPA for being transparent in its operations by engaging all concerned stakeholders in addressing challenges which arise at port.

Mr Malongo pledged support from his association to support Tanzania’s position in the maritime trade and make the Dar port a major gateway for its land-linked neighbors.

Since taking over operations at Dar port, the two private operators have recorded massive milestones in improving efficiency at the facility. For instance, while tabling estimates for the Ministry of Transport for fiscal year
2025/2026 in the National Assembly in July, this year Prof Makame Mbarawa told lawmakers that custom duties collected at the Dar port stood at 8.26trl/- between July, 2024 and February, this year compared to 7.08trl/- which was collected during the corresponding period in 2023/2024.

The Minister attributed the achievements to existing partnership between the government through TPA with private investors DP World and Tanzania East Africa Gateway Terminal Limited (TEAGTL).

“The aim of partnering with the private sector is improving efficiency at our ports to enable them to contribute more to economic growth and improve the welfare of all citizens,” The minister explained.

Adding, “The investors have acquired modern equipment and installed state-of-the art ICT systems which have improved efficiency in port operations”.

Through the partnership with the private sector, operations costs have reduced from 975.01bn/- to 685.16bn/- representing a decrease of 30 per cent, Prof Mbarawa noted.

The minister mentioned another achievement as reduction of anchorage time for general and bulk cargo ships from an average of 46 days to an average of 7 days. He noted further that there was also an increment on the number of containers handled per month at the port from 17,000 twenty equivalent units (TEUs) to 25,000 TEUs, representing an increment of 47 per cent.

In total, Prof Mbarawa said TPA handled 23.18 million tonnes of consignments between July 2024 and February, this year. The amount represents an increase of 11.87 per cent compared to 20.72 million tonnes which was collected by TPA during the corresponding period 2023/2024.

Prof Mbarawa affirmed that the government through TPA continues to implement the CCM manifesto of 2022-2025 which stipulates in section 59 (i-iv) on upgrading and modernization of port infrastructure The minister told the lawmaker that the government is also undertaking various efforts aimed at modernizing all coastal and inland lakes’ ports.

He mentioned some of the projects being undertaken by TPA as construction of 15 tank farms with a total volume of 378,000 cubic metres.

“A feasibility study for construction of berths 1-15 has been completed while upgrading of berths 8-11 is ongoing”, the minister explained.

The ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) has as well vouched for more inclusion of private investors in upgrading and running ports in the country. The CCM manifesto for 2025-2030 directs the government to embrace more players from the private sector in development and operation of services in all ports across the country.

Launched on May 30, this year, by the Chairperson of CCM, President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the manifesto says Tanzania has all it takes to serve its seven land-linked countries through its ports, particularly the major gateway of Dar es Salaam.