Against infrastructure improvements at Mtwara Port, the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) is preparing to transform the port into a transshipment hub.
According to Mtwara Port Acting Manager, Mr James Ng’wandu, TPA is currently holding talks with CMA-CGM to utilize the port using its larger container vessels.
“Once this deal is through, definitely we will start experiencing fleets of big vessels offloading cargo packed into containers and loading them into small ships to complete a journey to further destinations,” he said.
To attract business to the port, Mr Ng’wandu said the port authority has also resolved to extend number of days that containers will be allowed to stay at the port, whereby, an empty container now is allowed to stay at the port for 21 days instead of 15, while containers with cargo can stay up to the maximum of 14 days, instead of 7.
Additional incentives include reduction of wharfage charges from 1 per cent to 0.5 per cent of CFA value.
Before the expansion project the port had a berth measuring 385 metres in length with 9.8 metres depth, capable to accommodate vessels with capacity to carry 45,000 tonnes of cargo.
Expansion works completed in 2020 to the tune of 157 billion TSh which included construction of an additional berth measuring 300 metres with a depth of 13 metres, capable of accommodating cargo ships, measuring 230 metres in length with the capacity to carry 65,000 tonnes of cargo.
Existing strategic projects around the region highly depend on the existence of this port in part due to lower tariffs. The port handles bulk cargo from the Dangote Cement Factory, coal, cashewnuts and other general cargo.
Mtwara port, a natural deep-water harbour, is poised to serve as a gateway for economic growth in Tanzania’s southern regions of of Mtwara, Lindi and Ruvuma. It also serves as an ideal gateway to the outside world for commodity exports and imports for Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) member states such as Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia.
Source: https://dailynews.co.tz/what-fleets-of-busy-trucks-means-to-mtwara-ports-growth/
